ISLAMABAD: Afghan refugees can open bank accounts and obtain driving licences and mobile phone SIM cards in Pakistan now that Islamabad has agreed to extend their stay until the end of 2015.
Pakistan and Afghanistan formalised the agreement to extend the stay of registered refugees during talks between the Afghan Minister for Refugees, Jamaheer Anwari, and Pakistani officials in Islamabad, the Afghan Embassy Refugee Affairs Attaché, Misri Khan Momand, said yesterday.
The decision came a day after the National Assembly was informed that there are 1.62 million registered Afghan refugees in the country, which incidentally matches the figure of unregistered refugees.
Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch told the house that registration of unaccounted for refugees is under way.
He said a policy submitted to the cabinet suggests multiple steps to create conditions conducive for voluntary repatriation and create livelihood opportunities in Afghanistan to facilitate return and resettlement.
Some steps were formalised in the meeting and refugees will now be able to use money-transfer facilities in Pakistan and will get new Proof of Registration Cards, Momand said.
PoR cards expired on December 31 last year. The cards, issued by National Database and Registration Authority, legalise the temporary stay of refugees until the time agreed between both countries.
The former Pakistan Peoples Party government had agreed to extend the period for six months until June 30 this year. However, the incumbent government extended the PoR period until 2015. Internews
