Islamabad, Pakistan's government on Wednesday granted a one-year extension to registered Afghan refugees until June 30 next year, a respite for Afghan citizens living legally in the country and facing deportation.
The decision comes a day after United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The federal cabinet approved a one-year extension of the validity of the PoR (Proof of Registration) cards of 1.45 million Afghan refugees. "Their PoR cards expired on June 30, 2024. The extension was granted until June 30, 2025," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
The decision, which was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sharif, came amid reports that Pakistan had suspended the repatriation of Afghans without legal documents.
Last year, in October, the interim government announced the decision to expel all illegal foreigners, which especially affected Afghans living in Pakistan.
The deportation of illegal Afghan refugees has been underway since the government's ultimatum for them to leave Pakistan by November 1 last year.
There is no official data but it is believed that around half a million Afghans living illegally left the country.
Nearly 1.7 million illegal Afghans are said to have been living in Pakistan for decades.
Meanwhile, UNHCR welcomed the decision to extend the Afghans' stay, Dawn newspaper reported.
"This is a great relief for refugees who were facing uncertainty and anxiety," UNHCR spokesperson Qaisar Khan Afridi told the newspaper.
He said the "generous gesture" demonstrated Pakistan's commitment to the global refugee cause and showed "solidarity and compassion towards refugees at a time when the displaced need our support."
Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected the UNHCR chief's claim that Pakistan has suspended repatriation of illegal foreigners.
"This is not true. It should be noted that Pakistan has not given such understanding to UNHCR, not even in recent meetings with the High Commissioner for Refugees," Mumtaz Zehra Baloch told the newspaper.
Previously, UNHCR Commissioner Filippo Grandi, after his three-day visit on Tuesday, confirmed the suspension of the repatriation plan after meeting with Pakistani leaders.
The decision comes a day after United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The federal cabinet approved a one-year extension of the validity of the PoR (Proof of Registration) cards of 1.45 million Afghan refugees. "Their PoR cards expired on June 30, 2024. The extension was granted until June 30, 2025," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
The decision, which was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sharif, came amid reports that Pakistan had suspended the repatriation of Afghans without legal documents.
Last year, in October, the interim government announced the decision to expel all illegal foreigners, which especially affected Afghans living in Pakistan.
The deportation of illegal Afghan refugees has been underway since the government's ultimatum for them to leave Pakistan by November 1 last year.
There is no official data but it is believed that around half a million Afghans living illegally left the country.
Nearly 1.7 million illegal Afghans are said to have been living in Pakistan for decades.
Meanwhile, UNHCR welcomed the decision to extend the Afghans' stay, Dawn newspaper reported.
"This is a great relief for refugees who were facing uncertainty and anxiety," UNHCR spokesperson Qaisar Khan Afridi told the newspaper.
He said the "generous gesture" demonstrated Pakistan's commitment to the global refugee cause and showed "solidarity and compassion towards refugees at a time when the displaced need our support."
Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected the UNHCR chief's claim that Pakistan has suspended repatriation of illegal foreigners.
"This is not true. It should be noted that Pakistan has not given such understanding to UNHCR, not even in recent meetings with the High Commissioner for Refugees," Mumtaz Zehra Baloch told the newspaper.
Previously, UNHCR Commissioner Filippo Grandi, after his three-day visit on Tuesday, confirmed the suspension of the repatriation plan after meeting with Pakistani leaders.
