ISLAMABAD: The new government on Thursday extended the stay of Afghan refugees in Pakistan until 2015, a decision benefitting 1.6 million registered individuals.
The decision came at a federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The official deadline for the withdrawal of refugee status ended on June 30.
One source privy to the meeting told Pajhwok Afghan New the newly-elected federal government had little choice other than extending the stay of more than 1.6 million Afghans.
Pakistan, which has been hosting the Afghan refugees for more than three decades, assured the UN in late June of extending the refugees’ stay.
In mid-June, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch announced at a tripartite meeting in Kabul that his country would extend refugee cards for Afghans. The proof-of-registration (PoR) cards, as they are known, were set to expire on 30 June.
mud
Visits: 2
GET IN TOUCH
NEWSLETTER
SUGGEST A STORY
PAJHWOK MOBILE APP