By Muhammad Daud Khan
ISLAMABAD: On Commemoration of the 40th year of hosting Afghan refugees, the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) says Pakistan is hosting three million refugees.
The Safron has released the data of registered population (Proof of registration PoR card holders) as more than 1.4 million while newly documented Afghan Citizen Card holders 0.85 Million and Undocumented Afghans 0.5 million.
Pakistan has been a host to millions of Afghan refugees for the last four decades. This has been an unprecedented example of generosity and brotherhood that has been shown by Pakistan despite its financial restraints and meager resources.
There were 356 Afghan Refugees’ camps in Pakistan during 1990s. In the last ten years, the number of Afghan Refugees camps has dropped to 54.
Currently, Afghan Refugees are living all provinces including Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Northern Areas.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 816,345 refugees which is 58 per cent of the total. Balochistan is on the second number, which hosts 321,718, 23 per cent, Punjab is 162,829, 12 per cent, Sindh is hosting 63,516 which five per cent of the total refugees. Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan is also hosting 33,546, registered Afghan refugees.
The validity of the Afghan population living in Pakistan, Registered Refugees, PoR card holders is June 30, 2019, Afghan Citizen Cardholders May 31, 2019. The Ministry made it clear that the undocumented Afghans will deport as early as possible.
Muhammad Daud Khan is Islamabad-based freelance journalist. He tweets @daudpasaney
Main image: DW
