UNHCR in Pakistan suspends repatriation of Afghan refugees until the end of winter

By Muhammad YaseenPublished On 05 Jan 2023

ISLAMABAD: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will suspend the repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan between Dec. 1 and the end of February, due to the winter season, the agency’s spokesperson in Islamabad told Arab News on Friday.

Nearly 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan, UNHCR says

Their repatriation from Pakistan will be halted until the end of February

It is a routine practice at the agency. During the break, persons staying at the Voluntary Repatriation Centers (VRCs) in Azakhel in Nowshera and Baleli in Quetta, will not be returned to Afghanistan.
On June 28, the government of Pakistan decided to extend the stay of registered Afghan refugees until June 30, 2020.

The UN refugee agency welcomed the government’s decision to extend their Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, saying that “Pakistan has been an exemplary host throughout” and vowing to support the government’s policies which promote voluntary repatriation in dignity and safety.
Around 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees reside in Pakistan.