Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

‘No reason to spoil relation with Afghanistan’

SAPM says Afghanistan peace is in Pakistan’s best interests

Umer Farooq August 12, 2020

PHOTO: FILE

PESHAWAR:

Peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan's best interest and the country will play its role in stabilising the region.

Meanwhile, the repatriation of Afghan refugees has also resumed.

This was stated by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Special Assistant on Establishment Shehzad Arbab on Monday as he addressed a ceremony to break ground for upgrading the Government Primary School No.1 Tehkal Bala Peshawar.

“We wish peace in Afghanistan as it benefits us too since it leads us all the way towards the Central Asian region,” Arbab said.

He added the Torkham border crossing point has been made operational around the clock and the government plans to conduct operations at the Chaman border crossing around the clock as well.

The SAPM said Peshawar has hosted the majority of Afghan refugees adding there has been a strong bond between residents of both the countries.

Afghan refugees completed their education from schools here while most of the Afghan cabinet members obtained their educational degrees from Peshawar, Arbab said, adding locals and refugees lived together and Afghan culture was visible in the provincial capital.

“I grew up amongst Afghan refugees and the way these people lived here—it was difficult to differentiate between Peshawar and Kabul,” Arbab said.The Afghan commissionerate in a statement said that 335 projects have been implemented in various K-P districts under RAHA initiatives in multiple sectors including health, education, water and sanitation, infrastructure and livelihood.

The UNHCR country head for Pakistan, Noriko Yoshida, said that the construction of additional classrooms, toilets and overall rehabilitation of the school will help improve the enrolment of students.

“Through RAHA, UNHCR will continue to invest resources to improve the existing educational facilities, which will benefit both Afghan refugees and Pakistani communities,” the statement added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2020.