Speakers at media awareness seminar have called for provision of all basic rights to Afghan refugees staying for a long period in the country, pointed out that only 0.7 million Afghan refugees are registered out of total number of 2.9 million hosted by the Pakistan, which reflected as not being treated according to the laws of the country.
The seminar titled "The Role of Media in Providing Decent Work Opportunities to Afghan Refugees" held under auspices of International Labour Organisation (ILO) here at local hotel on Saturday. Notable speakers were included senior programme officer of ILO, Saifullah Chaudhry, President of All Pakistan Labour Federation, Sultan Mehmood Khan, UNHCR Associate Protection Officer, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Joint Director Labour Government of Balochistan, Abdul Khaliq Doltani and a large number of journalists and society workers were also present.
The speakers said that Pakistan had allowed 150,000 unskilled Afghan refugees to prolong their stay in the country through an agreement with Afghanistan and UNHCR, saying that about one million refugees repatriated in 2004. Owing to poor law and order situation of their country, they said about 80 percent returned to Pakistan. The participants viewed that the basic human rights of Afghanistan people have continuously by the hosting countries regardless about the international humanitarian law. Saifullah Chaudhry said that only 0.7 million Afghan Refugees are registered out of total number of hosted 2.9 million in the country. He said that most of Afghan citizens are not being treated according to laws, resultantly they are deprived of even their basic rights.
He said that Pakistan is a signatory of ILO convention relating to the basic human rights. He was of the view that there is no law or framework in the country which can differentiate between refugees and other foreign nationals residing in Pakistan." ILO conventions and treaties guarantee foreigner workers and other migrants", he elaborated.
Sultan Mehmood Khan, while addressing said that Afghan citizens in Pakistan are playing key role in fulfilling the labour needs of the country. He opined that in case, Afghan refugees are departed; Pakistan will face an acute shortage of readily available skilled and cheap labour.
He dispelled the impression that Afghan citizens have put bad impact on Pakistan's economy, politics, Society, environment and law and order situation. He said that in fact Pakistan is lucky enough in availing the cheap labour in shape of Afghans. This has also provided an opportunity to present a better image of Pakistan at international level. Abdul Khaliq Doltani appealed that they should be given equal opportunities of development, social respect and freedom of expression as well.
Director Afghan Refugees Organisations, Major Farzand Ali said that it is our duty to give all rights to Afghan refugees. He said that forced and child labour and other discriminatory laws with regard to Afghan nationals in Pakistan needs to be abolished.