PM allows banking facility to registered Afghan DPs

Imran Khan says the decision should've been taken 'a long time ago'

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday issued instructions to allow registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan to open bank accounts and participate in the country’s formal economy.

The premier added that the decision should have been taken "a long time ago".

I have issued instructions today that Afghan refugees who are registered can open bank accounts and from now onwards they can participate in the formal economy of the country . This should have been done a long time ago.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 25, 2019

Last year, the prime minister announced he will grant nationality to all Pakistan-born refugees of Afghan and Bangladeshi origins.

However, after a backlash from politicians and other quarters concerned, he said that no decision had been made, adding that he had raised refugee citizenship “just to initiate a debate”.

A council of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan welcomed the prime minister’s decision, saying the move would help the Afghan businessmen open accounts and transfer and receive money through Pakistani banks.

Muhammad Sherzad, a member of the refugees’ council in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, told Xinhua on the phone that allowing refugees to open accounts in Pakistan was their primary demand.

“The Afghan refugees welcome the decision as it will enable us to send money through banks. Many refugees would now keep their money in banks, who previously did not have the permission to open accounts in Pakistan,” Sherzad said.

According to the United Nations, there are 1.4 million Afghan refugees living in the country while out of which 74% were born in Pakistan.