UNHCR representative calls on CM

Says repatriation of refugees slowed down because of slow economic activity in Afghanistan

QUETTA: United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in Pakistan Ruvendrini Menikdiwela on Wednesday said decrease in economic activities and livelihood opportunities in Afghanistan have slowed down the repatriation of refugees.

This came during a meeting with Chief Minister Jam Kamal in Quetta. Minister for Home and Tribal Areas Ziaullah Langove, Afghan Refugees Commissioner Brig (retd) Masood Ahmed Khan and Additional Secretary for Interior Bashir Bangulazai were also present on the occasion.

Briefing the chief minister about the agency’s work in the province, UNHCR’s representative said “Decrease in economic activities and livelihood opportunities in Afghanistan have slowed down the repatriation of Afghan refugees”. She added that to every departing Afghan refugee, the agency provides $200 and vocational trainings, making them able for earning a good living.

UNHCR’s representative also said the agency with the cooperation of provincial government is going to start new programmes, comprising health and education facilities for refugees in Balochistan.

The agency has provided latest machinery to Civil Hospital for quality treatment of poor patients of Balochistan, she added.

Lauding UNHCR’s initiatives, CM Kamal said Pakistan has always played a positive role in Afghan peace process, adding that the federal and provincial governments were willing to repatriate Afghan refugees with respect and honour.

“Fencing along the Afghan border will maintain law and order and would revamp border management, he said, “Urban centres in border areas will increase economic activities”.

The UNHCR’s officials also termed mandatory border fencing for maintaining peace in the region and expressed grief over the recent Hazar Ganji blast, which claimed 22 lives.