UNHCR welcomes extension of stay for Afghan refugees in Pakistan
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
UNHCR welcomes Pakistan's renewal of its commitment to providing protection and safety for over 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees.
Pakistan's new minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), Abdul Qadir Baloch, announced on Friday at a tripartite meeting with the Government of Afghanistan and UNHCR in Kabul that his country would extend refugee cards for Afghans, known as proof of registration (PoR) cards. The cards had been due to expire on June 30.
Pakistan remains the world's largest refugee hosting nation, and has generously hosted millions of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of 1979.
The announcement by the States and Frontier Regions minister comes as Pakistan is finalizing a new national policy for Afghan refugees. The new policy is expected to be adopted soon by the Cabinet and includes recommendations for extension of PoR cards and continuation of a tri-partite arrangement between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UNHCR governing voluntary returns of Afghan refugees.
UNHCR looks forward to the adoption of the new policy, as it provides a domestic framework for Pakistan's commitment to implement in letter and spirit the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees - a regional policy arrangement between the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and UNHCR to find solutions for one of the world's largest and most protracted refugee situations. The strategy, endorsed by an international gathering in Geneva in May 2012, supports repatriation, sustainable reintegration and assistance to host countries.
Extension of PoR cards will help end current uncertainty among Afghan refugees in Pakistan over their status. As an interim measure, we are encouraged to see an instruction from Minister Baloch's office sent to various authorities in Pakistan, including law enforcement authorities, asking them to respect existing refugee cards until the Cabinet decides on the new national policy, including extension of PoR cards.
UNHCR remains engaged with the governments of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan in facilitating voluntary returns and managing the stay of Afghan refugees, who need continued international protection in neighbouring countries. We also work to support the sustainable reintegration of Afghans who decide to voluntarily return to their country. In Pakistan, UNHCR and our partners remain engaged to develop infrastructure and improve services in refugee-affected and hosting areas, where communities have lived together with Afghan refugees for over three decades now.
As voluntary returns continue to take place, UNHCR is considering an increase in the return grant from US$150 to $200 for each Afghan refugee returning home, paid inside Afghanistan. Since 2002, UNHCR's voluntary repatriation programme has helped nearly 4.8 million Afghans return home (3.8 million from Pakistan and around a million from Iran). Around 22,000 Afghans have returned home from Pakistan so far this year.
For more information on this topic, please contact:
- In Kabul: Mohammad Nader Farhad on mobile +93 791 990018
- In Islamabad: Duniya Aslam Khan on mobile +92 300 5017939
- In Geneva: Babar Baloch on mobile +41 79 557 9106
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Your search for « PoR cards » matched 149 results. Displaying page 7 of 17 pages.
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Afghanistan, Pakistan, UNHCR welcome new policies on Afghan refugees in Pakistan and returnees to Afghanistan
22 Aug 2015 ... ... return during 2016 and 2017. The extension of Afghan refugees' Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, currently set to expire at the end of this year is currently being deliberated upon in Pakistan. ...... -
UNHCR appeals for temporary suspension of Jalozai camp closure in Pakistan
22 Aug 2007 ... In accordance with the agreement on the registration of Afghans reached in April 2006 between Pakistan and UNHCR, those holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards can stay in Pakistan until the end of ...... -
Tough choices for Afghan refugees returning home after years in exile
3 Feb 2017 ... ... to advocate with the Pakistani authorities for the extension of the Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for Afghan refugees beyond 2017. UNHCR does not promote refugee returns to Afghanistan given ...... -
Update on UNHCR's operations in Asia and the Pacific
24 Sep 2013 ... ... policy, which includes facilitation of legal economic activity of refugees by attaching certain rights to the PoR cards, such as the right to open a bank account and officially register a business. ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2011 (update) - Asia and the Pacific summary
1 Dec 2010 ... ... The strategy comprises the extension of the Tripartite Agreement and the Proof of Registration (POR) card system for 1.7 million Afghan refugees until the end of 2012. It also includes a population ...... -
Background Paper
5 Oct 2015 ... ... Overview of refugee demographics Following recent verification during the renewal of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, 12 Pakistan continues to host over 1.5 million Afghan refugees. The majority ...... -
Multi-Purpose Cash and Sectoral Outcomes - Case Study Afghanistan
May 2018 ... ... and Iran: registered Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan holding a Proof of Registration (PoR) card issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) with an expiry date of 31 ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2009 - Pakistan
1 Jun 2010 ... ... In addition, 18 urgent cases and two emergency cases were resettled. The Proof of Registration (PoR) Card Modification Project with the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) had processed ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2018 - Asia and the Pacific regional summary
Jun 2019 ... ... Promoting a favourable protection environment Host to more than 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees, the Government of Pakistan approved the extension of “proof of registration” (PoR) cards ......