ISLAMABAD:
With more than 50,000 Afghans entering Pakistan on a daily basis without verification, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has suggested that Pakistan pass legislation to deal with the influx of refugees.
UN officials believe that the government needs to look more closely into border control. A UNHCR official wants the government to accede to the 1951 Refugee Convention that provides protection to refugees and asylum-seekers. Currently, Afghans don’t need identification to enter Pakistan but must provide ID when returning to Afghanistan.
Imran Zeb, the joint secretary of the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, said that the 50,000 Afghans cross into Pakistan from official border points at Chaman and Torkham. According to him, not all the Afghans are necessarily refugees; some are daily wagers while others enter Pakistan for business, education or medical reasons.
Zeb said that the UNHCR, Foreign Office, Ministry of Interior, Human Rights Ministry and Ministry for Law and Parliamentary Affairs would all have to work in concert to devise a solution. He said that talks are still at the initial stage and, while there are no objections in accepting the Refugee Convention, it will take some time. The UNHCR official claimed that the delay was being caused by a lack of understanding among the ministries.
Another challenge being faced by the government is one of money. Officials said that refugees who return to Afghanistan get $150 and shelter but the refugees take the money, purchase food, live in the shelter and then return to Pakistan.
Mengesha Kebede, UNHCR representative in Pakistan, said that Afghans in Pakistan not only contribute to the economy, but have also made their home here.
He said that 70 per cent of Afghans in Pakistan are under the age of 30 which means that majority were born and brought up here. “It’s high time something is done for them. We do not want to end up back at to square one so efforts need to be made and soon,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2011.
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