Publish dateThursday 27 February 2014 - 12:27
Story Code : 86603
Scores of Afghans queue up to renew registration
Scores of roughly-dressed Afghan refugees, both young and old, gathered outside the Afghan Refugee Repatriation Cell (ARPC) office, as the National Database and Registration Authority began the renewal process of proof of registration (PoR) cards for refugees. 

Some 1.6 million Afghan refugees hope to get their cards extended till 2015. 

The project was launched at the ARPC, in collaboration with UNHCR, under which more than 68,000 Afghan refugees residing in Sindh will receive their renewed PoR cards — which will remain valid till December 2015. 

According to UNHCR Pakistan spokesperson Qaiser Khan Afridi, around 95 per cent of the total registered refugees in Sindh reside in Karachi. 

Afghanistan’s Consul General Shah Ahmed Saeed said that Kabul is thankful to Islamabad for extending the stay of the Afghan refugees. “We hope that after the renewal of PoR cards the Afghan refugees won’t undergo unnecessary questioning by the local law enforcing agencies.”
 
While responding to a question, Saeed said that the law enforcement agencies should take action against those Afghan citizens who are involved in criminal activities. 

The head of UNHCR field office in Karachi, Younas Sahibzada, appreciated the government’s efforts and cooperation in renewing the PoR cards to Afghan refugees. “The renewal of PoR cards will lessen the number of extortion and harassment cases of registered Afghans.” The renewed PoR cards will help its holders to move freely inside Pakistan, he added. 

Chairman of Afghan Mohajir Jirga at the Afghan Camp Haji Abdullah Shah Bukhari said, “We are thankful to the government of Pakistan and UNHCR for renewing our cards as we were facing problems.”
(Express Tribune)
Source : Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), International Service
https://avapress.com/vdcexp8v.jh8p7ik1bj.html
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