First ever refugee school in Punjab formally upgraded, affiliated with board
Press Release Nansen Refugee Award winner completed education project in Punjab KOT CHANDNA, MIANWALI, 26 October 2017 – Ms. Aqeela Asifi – the 2015 Nansen Refugee Award winner – has successfully completed her education project in Kot Chandna refugee...
New representative for UNHCR in Pakistan arrives
Press Release ISLAMABAD – 20 October, 2017: The new representative for the UN refugee agency in Pakistan, Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, has arrived to take up her responsibilities. She succeeded Mr. Indrika Ratwatte – who has become UNHCR’s Regional Bureau...
From a child bride to a rights defender
News story QUETTA, 28 September, 2017: It is a fine evening. A group of Afghan women are enjoying traditional Afghan tea with Roghni (Afghan snacks) and white Afghan sweets. Everybody is happy as they gather to fix the date for an engagement ceremony. Amid the...
Breaking the status quo: A proud refugee father
News Story QUETTA, 31 August 2017: A father takes his daughter to a school where she is the only girl student amongst the boys as there is no school for girls in the village. He faces sarcastic remarks from many people in the community for being odd, but that does not...
‘Rangoona’ festival showcases harmony between communities
News story ISLAMABAD (17 August, 2017): The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) organised a night of entertainment and culture show the cohesion and harmony between Pakistani and Afghan refugee communities. The cultural festival ‘Rangoona’ (unity in diversity) brought together...
UNHCR’s health project to benefit 200,000 patients in Balochistan
Press Release QUETTA, 7 August, 2017: In an effort to improve the health services in public hospitals in Quetta, the UN Refugee Agency Monday handed over a health project worth Rs35.4million (USD350,000) to the provincial health department that will benefit 200,000...
Afghans dream of stepping out of the shadows with Pakistan ID scheme
By: Samad Khan 21 July 2017 PESHAWAR, Pakistan – An Afghan in Pakistan without papers, Mohammad Rehman has lived all his life in fear of arrest by the police and deportation to his conflict-torn homeland. But a new Pakistan government programme to register up to one...
UNHCR, BUITEMS launches Centre for Refugees and Migration Studies in Quetta
Press Release QUETTA: The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR signed a Partnership Agreement with Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) on 7th June 2017 Wednesday. This collaboration is aimed at establishing a Centre for...
Improving school facilities to improve student experience
News Story New furniture helps keep Afghan refugee and Pakistani children in schools QUETTA, 31 May, 2017: Nine year-old Nadia Abdul Waris attends school with enthusiasm since her school has received new sets furniture for students. “Sitting on the floor was very...