Dealing with Afghan refugees

Issuance of PoR cards is a welcome move, as it removes uncertainty from the lives of almost two million people.

Pakistan has the world’s largest population of long-term refugees — those who have their origins in Afghanistan. Many have been here for decades, and hundreds of thousands have been born and educated here, never having returned to the home country of their parents. They know no other country than Pakistan. The last government, towards the end of its tenure, was hoping to see the majority of Afghan refugees repatriated, but it was not to be and in July last year, the validity of the registration cards of the refugees was extended until the end of 2015. In an acceptance that many of the 1.6 million-plus (or up to 2.7 million depending on sources), who are currently residents must stay, they are to be issued with new Proof of Registration (PoR) cards by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Registration and renewal centres have been established in 34 cities across the country. The exercise will be conducted in two phases, with cards that expired at the end of 2012 being renewed first. Individual PoR cards will be issued to 150,000 children born to registered refugee parents and a further 330,000 children under 18 will receive birth certificates.



Although this further extends the stay of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and does nothing to reduce the very considerable burden and strain their presence has placed on scant resources, this is a welcome move. It removes uncertainty from the lives of almost two million people and enables medium-term planning to meet their needs by a range of agencies and entities other than the Government of Pakistan, which will remain heavily reliant on the support of external donors to share the cost of providing a modicum of security for Afghans in Pakistan. Ideally, the government would like to see all Afghans return home, as the best solution for all of them lies within their own country. Since 2002, around 3.8 million have returned home, with returnees forming a quarter of the current population of Afghanistan. Further instability is on the Afghan horizon and it is possible that Pakistan will again have to shoulder a huge human burden. This is a burden that international donors must share.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2014.

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