It is important to register and include Afghan refugees in the national database and to expand the employment pool
BANNU: Ever since the 1979 and 2001 wars in Afghanistan ended, Afghans fled to numerous places across the world as war refugees. While European countries are certainly in a far better position to cater to refugees, the Third World developing countries, particularly Pakistan, in case of a future Afghan war are inept to deal with a refugee crisis. According to the figures by UNHCR, there are 1,320,394 Afghan refugees in Pakistan as of November 2016, putting a strain on the already resource drained economy. Following the 2017 census, the government now aims to register and include Afghan refugees in the national database. With millions already living below the poverty line, the refugee crisis will only worsen the current economic and law and order situation.
For the purpose, it is important to not only register and include Afghan refugees in the national database but to expand the employment pool particularly for blue-collar jobs. Foreign investments and high trade figures are close to no good if a government fails to tackle the internal causes of economic crisis that spiral over the economy.
Hamza Ather
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2017.
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