The cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday approved a new policy on the repatriation and management of Afghan refugees. The policy:
– Permits an extension in the stay of registered refugees in Pakistan from March 31 to December 31, 2017. Beyond this date, they would be required to obtain visas to enter Pakistan again.
– All registered Afghan refugees would need to surrender their Proof of Registration (POR) cards before going to their country.
The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, has welcomed:
- The revised policy calling it a step change for Afghan refugees and those Afghans living in Pakistan without documentation with potentially transformative impact on people’s daily lives.
- Vowed to continue to seek robust international support for voluntary repatriation and more equitable responsibility-sharing to fully support Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan.
Sources:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1313278
https://www.dawn.com/news/1313489/strict-implementation-of-immigration-laws-on-afghan-border
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