Tweet
MigrationPakistan starts renewing refugees’ cards
By Qaiser Yousafzai Feb 26, 2014 - 11:42 ISLAMABAD (Pajhwok): The Pakistan government has set in motion a countrywide process of issuing renewed Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to registered Afghan refugees.
The inaugural ceremony for the project, which is being carried out in collaboration with UNHCR, was held in the northwestern district of Haripur on Tuesday.
Officials said the renewed PoR cards would be issued by 34 centres, with six established in Haripur, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Quetta. More centres which will be opened in March, April and May,
UNHCR spokesman Qaiser Afridi told Pajhwok Afghan News validity of registration cards for 1.6 million plus refugees currently living in Pakistan would be extended until the end of 2015.
In the first phase, which will run until June, all PoR cards that expired by December 2012 will be replaced by new ones. The second phase, which will begin in July and continue until the end of 2014, will involve issuing individual PoR cards to some 150,000 children born to registered refugee parents in the last five years.
Speaking at the ceremony, Afghan Refugees Chief Commissioner Dr Imran Zeb affirmed the country’s commitment to hosting Afghan refugees until the end of 2015.
“The government is keen to provide support to UNHCR and the government of Afghanistan in facilitating the voluntary return of refugees back to their country,” he said.
UNHCR representative Neill Wright hoped the renewal of existing PoR cards would improve the situation of Afghan refugees and put a halt to reported instances of harassment.
mud
Comment