ISLAMABAD: Pakistan continues to be one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world, bringing the number of Afghan nationals living in the country to 3.7 million. The federal government has extended the period of stay of registered Afghan refugees living across the country by one year. According to the notification, the extension will be applicable from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
UNHCR Has launched a one-time cash assistance scheme for some 1.3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan affected by devastating 2022 floods as well as the prevailing economic situation. Registered Afghan refugees will get Rs25,000, adjusted depending on the family size.
The extension of POR will apply to registered Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan. In light of the decision of the Federal Court, the Ministry of States and Border Affairs has issued an official notification. For more than 40 years, numerous illegal Afghan citizens have been trafficked in Pakistan.
UNHCR Cash Assistance Scheme Online Apply
UNHCR’s first private sector engagement with the country’s banking system and is a great example of the commitment of the Government and private sector in the country to find innovative approaches to support vulnerable Afghans.
Those Afghans having expired PoR Card from 31st December 2015 can apply for Renewal of PoR card till 31st March 2023. Persons who have PoR cards will get SMS From Konnect by HBL and get their money. So far, 6 lakh new Afghan refugees have entered Pakistan.
Across the country, 840,000 Afghan refugees have an Afghan citizen card, while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 370,000 Afghan refugees have an Afghan citizen card. It was decided to deport seven and a half million Afghan refugees who did not renew their registration for staying in Pakistan.
Among the Afghan refugees in Pakistan, 750,000 people went into hiding instead of renewing their registration. According to the officials of the Ministry of Interior, 35 lakh 7 thousand two hundred and ninety five Afghan refugees registered from 2006 to 2023. During this period, 13 lakh 3 thousand 636 refugees returned home.
According to Ministry of Interior officials, 14 lakh 60 thousand 717 have renewed their registration, while 7 lakh 42 thousand 942 Afghan refugees are staying illegally in Pakistan without renewing their registration.
According to the data of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees up to June 2023, the total number of Afghan citizens living in Pakistan is 3.7 lakh, of which only 1.3 lakh 30 thousand are registered while 7 lakh 75 thousand are living without registration.
Similarly, 68.8 percent of Afghans live in urban or semi-urban areas of Pakistan, while 31.2 percent live in 54 different areas. According to statistics up to June 2023, the total number of illegal Afghan citizens living in Pakistan is 4229,749, of which 71,358 (52.6 percent) are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 3,21,677 (24.1 percent) from Balochistan, 1,91,53 (14.3 percent) percent) in Punjab, 73,789 (5.5 percent) in Sindh, 41,520 (3.1 percent) in Islamabad and 4,352 (0.3 percent) in Azad Kashmir.
Helpline number
kpk 0800-11122
Balochistan 0331-1110237
Islamabd/Punjab/Sindh/AJK 0304-111-437.
Fahad Munir is a seasoned journalist and editor at Awam PK, specializing in sharing accurate and timely news, job updates, and educational information to the Pakistani audience.