Govt extended stay of registered Afghan refugees for two more years
28 January, 2016
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to extend the deadline for the stay of registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan for two more years.
The Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) has prepared a summary in this regard, which will be soon forwarded to the Federal Cabinet for approval, said a ministry official.
There are some 1.5 million registered Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan, who were issued Proof of Residence (PoR) cards by the National Database and Registration Authority which were expired on December 31, 2015. The validity of PoR cards had been extended till June 30, 2016 with the approval of Prime Minister on January 11 this year, he added.
The official said that the ministry wanted repatriation of registered Afghan nationals to their country in phases and for the purpose two-year more extension in the validity of their PoR cards was required.
He said millions of Afghans were residing in the country illegally, who were involved in terror and other criminal activities. “The Ministry of Interior and provincial home departments had been assigned to trace the illegal Afghan nationals and arrange their repatriation to Afghanistan. This would help overcome terror incidents and crimes in the country,” he added.
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