Islamabad: Pakistan started documentation of around 1 million unregistered Afghan refugees, Pakistani and Afghan officials said.
Pakistani officials on Wednesday said that documentation of the un-registered Afghans will enable the authorities to know the exact number of the un-registered refugees, where they live and what they do in Pakistan. They will be given cards for their identification, Xinhua news agency reported.
Officials said that 21 registration centres have been established across Pakistan, including capital Islamabad, for the registration purpose.
Pakistan continues to host approximately 1.45 million registered refugees, according to the UN refugee agency. Around 1 million are still unregistered, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Pakistani officials.
Pakistan's National Data Base Registration Authority is providing technical support to the government in the documentation process. Afghan government has also sent officials to monitor the process.
The registration follows three years of consultations between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan and UNHCR.
Under the scheme Afghans will be issued with an Afghan Citizen, or AC card providing legal protection from arbitrary arrest, detention or deportation under Pakistan's Foreigner's Act.
The documentation process is expected to be completed in six months, Pakistani officials said.
UNHCR officials welcomed the program and said it will allow Afghans to stay in Pakistan for the time being, until they can be issued documents such as passports, by the Government of Afghanistan. Afghan government has already launched the passport program for the refugees in Pakistan and Iran.
Pakistani officials on Wednesday said that documentation of the un-registered Afghans will enable the authorities to know the exact number of the un-registered refugees, where they live and what they do in Pakistan. They will be given cards for their identification, Xinhua news agency reported.
Officials said that 21 registration centres have been established across Pakistan, including capital Islamabad, for the registration purpose.
Pakistan's National Data Base Registration Authority is providing technical support to the government in the documentation process. Afghan government has also sent officials to monitor the process.
Advertisement
Under the scheme Afghans will be issued with an Afghan Citizen, or AC card providing legal protection from arbitrary arrest, detention or deportation under Pakistan's Foreigner's Act.
Advertisement
UNHCR officials welcomed the program and said it will allow Afghans to stay in Pakistan for the time being, until they can be issued documents such as passports, by the Government of Afghanistan. Afghan government has already launched the passport program for the refugees in Pakistan and Iran.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Pakistan Players Hold China Flag During Asian Champions Trophy Final Against India. Internet Reacts Pakistan Finish Third In Asian Champions Trophy After Comeback Win Against Korea Pakistan Coach Backs Australia Quartet To "Do The Job" In Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs India 9 Dead, 2,800 Hurt As Pagers Explode Across Lebanon, Hezbollah Blames Israel "Wear Proper Undergarments": Delta Airlines' New Memo For Flight Attendants IndiGo Flight Tailstrike Leaves Huge Dent During Take-Off From Delhi Airport Live Updates: J&K To Vote In First Assembly Elections In A Decade Today Donald Trump Says He Will Meet With PM Modi Next Week Israel Planted Explosives In Hezbollah's Taiwan-Made Pagers: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.