Implementing NAP: No funds to register Afghan refugees, says SAFRON ministry
Some one million refugees are estimated to be unregistered
There are 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees in the country, but some one million are estimated to be unregistered. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Despite tall claims by the federal government, the finance division has failed to release the promised funds to the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) division for registration of illegal Afghan citizens under the
National Action Plan (NAP) despite a lapse of two months. This was revealed by senior officials of the ministry to the National Assembly standing committee on government assurances held here on Thursday.
The ministry said that the deadline to complete the registration process of illegal Afghan citizens in Pakistan is June 2015, but because due funds have not been released by the finance division, there is no headway in starting the registration process under NAP.
“We have sent a proposal to the finance division for releasing Rs680 million for the registration, but not even a single penny has been released so far,” the officials said. They also sought the committee’s help to take up the issue with the finance division.
The Safron ministry informed that there are 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees in the country, but some one million are estimated to be unregistered. The fate of these registered Afghans would be decided at the tripartite meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR in Geneva scheduled for March 16, 2015. Before this, the tripartite meeting would also be held on March 11 in Islamabad to discuss the issue.
“The three parties would have to give a handsome package to these refugees for repatriating them to their home country,” said the federal secretary for Safron. Besides, he said, those who would not be registered till December 15, 2015 would be forcefully repatriated. “We will start taking action against those who are not registered and there would be no mercy for them.”
He also informed the meeting that FIA would establish its counter on the border areas to check the illegal emigrants. The ministry officials said that there are 39 refugee camps in the country, but around 70 per cent of the displaced Afghans are out of these camps.
Secretary Parliamentary Affairs Manzoor Ali Khan said that many Afghans and Bangalis have got illegal and fake ID cards and passports and there are legal complications while repatriating them back.
The committee decided to invite ministry of finance and foreign affairs in the next meeting to resolve the financial matters aimed at expediting the registration process.
Passport issues
Director General Passport Muhammad Safdar informed the committee that there is no backlog in issuing passports. Besides, he said, the authorities have planned to establish new passport offices in districts with no office in addition to 10 new offices abroad. Out of these ten, three would be established in the United States – one each in Chicago, Houston and Washington. The ten offices abroad would be functional in the next three months.
Muhammad Safdar said the passport office has 40 per cent less staff than optimal. The DG informed the committee that various steps have been taken to minimise the role of brokers in the passport office. At present, there is no role of the brokers because there is no backlog, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2015.
Despite tall claims by the federal government, the finance division has failed to release the promised funds to the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) division for registration of illegal Afghan citizens under the
National Action Plan (NAP) despite a lapse of two months. This was revealed by senior officials of the ministry to the National Assembly standing committee on government assurances held here on Thursday.
The ministry said that the deadline to complete the registration process of illegal Afghan citizens in Pakistan is June 2015, but because due funds have not been released by the finance division, there is no headway in starting the registration process under NAP.
“We have sent a proposal to the finance division for releasing Rs680 million for the registration, but not even a single penny has been released so far,” the officials said. They also sought the committee’s help to take up the issue with the finance division.
The Safron ministry informed that there are 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees in the country, but some one million are estimated to be unregistered. The fate of these registered Afghans would be decided at the tripartite meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR in Geneva scheduled for March 16, 2015. Before this, the tripartite meeting would also be held on March 11 in Islamabad to discuss the issue.
“The three parties would have to give a handsome package to these refugees for repatriating them to their home country,” said the federal secretary for Safron. Besides, he said, those who would not be registered till December 15, 2015 would be forcefully repatriated. “We will start taking action against those who are not registered and there would be no mercy for them.”
He also informed the meeting that FIA would establish its counter on the border areas to check the illegal emigrants. The ministry officials said that there are 39 refugee camps in the country, but around 70 per cent of the displaced Afghans are out of these camps.
Secretary Parliamentary Affairs Manzoor Ali Khan said that many Afghans and Bangalis have got illegal and fake ID cards and passports and there are legal complications while repatriating them back.
The committee decided to invite ministry of finance and foreign affairs in the next meeting to resolve the financial matters aimed at expediting the registration process.
Passport issues
Director General Passport Muhammad Safdar informed the committee that there is no backlog in issuing passports. Besides, he said, the authorities have planned to establish new passport offices in districts with no office in addition to 10 new offices abroad. Out of these ten, three would be established in the United States – one each in Chicago, Houston and Washington. The ten offices abroad would be functional in the next three months.
Muhammad Safdar said the passport office has 40 per cent less staff than optimal. The DG informed the committee that various steps have been taken to minimise the role of brokers in the passport office. At present, there is no role of the brokers because there is no backlog, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2015.