The United Nations and Pakistan have agreed to jointly conduct a census of Afghan refugees remaining here during the last quarter of this year. The figures will be used for their registration for future planning for aid and drafting of repatriation programme during the next summer.
The agreement was reached between UN High Commissioner for Refugees Rud Lubbers and visiting Pakistani minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao at Geneva on Tuesday.
An official announcement later said that the two sides also reviewed the current repatriation process and noted that so far 2.1 million Afghans had returned home from their camps in Pakistan.
Under a tripartite agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UNHCR, the repatriation and food aid programmes will come to an end with that of the role of the UNHCR by March, 2006 when the signatories expect to complete their rehabilitation process of the Afghan refugees.
Reviewing the progress of the current repatriation process, the two sides noted that nearly 200,000 Afghans had returned home during the first half of this year and by the turn of the year it was targeted to reach 400, 000.
Sherpao also briefed the UN officials of Islamabad's desire to facilitate the participation of the Afghans in their presidential elections that have been re-scheduled for coming October 9.
The coming census of the remaining Afghan refugees in Pakistan will form the basis for their repatriation in the second phase that is expected to begin after the winter and also help the donors to arrange financial assistance for them.