ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has decided to restrict the movement of Afghan citizens and refugees within the country, as part of a new policy announced yesterday.
Under the new policy, Afghan refugees will not be allowed to move freely just anywhere in the country. Their movement will be subject to registration with the respective police stations.
Inter-province movement restricted
According to the officials, it will be mandatory for Afghan citizens to inform the concerned police stations about their movement to another city or province. The purpose of going to another city and the address they will be visiting will also have to be shared with the police station concerned, said the sources.
They said separate centres will be set up inside each police station for the purpose. The authorities decided that the data of all Afghan refugees will be collected at an exclusive data bank. It has been decided that the entry system at the border will also be made more efficient.
Afghan nationals and refugees will have to return to their country on the expiry of their visas or residence permits. Sources said the Afghan refugees were given the deadline of December 30 to get themselves registered or leave if they don’t.
According to the officials, around 400,000 of the refugees failed to register themselves, following which the policy was devised.
A few days ago, UNHCR Pakistan issued an appeal for the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to their country. As per the UNHCR policy, one member of each family will get $350 upon voluntary repatriation.
