E-Paper
Pak registers 60,000 Afghans: UNHCR
This exercise is expected to run until end of year, and seeks to provide those registered with a Proof of Registration card.
More than 60,000 Afghans in Pakistan have so far been registered since largest-ever registration started on October 15, UN refugee agency said.
"So far process has been satisfactory, and pace of registration is picking up every day," Vivian Tan, UNHCR spokesperson said.
"We would like process to be faster and we hope to register all eligible Afghans within this time period."
She dispelled impression that registration process will lead to deport them from Pakistan.
"From UNHCR, we are stressing very clearly this exercise has nothing to do with expelling them. It is not an attempt to find where they are and deport them. Instead it is for protection."
She said registration is an attempt to give them a Proof of Registration card with their names, staying and where they are from in Afghanistan.
"With this card, we hope they will not be harassed by police or they will not be detained or deported."
This exercise is expected to run until end of year, and seeks to provide those registered with a Proof of Registration card that is valid for three years and recognises bearer as Afghan citizen living temporarily in Pakistan.
It is follow-up of Pakistan government census of Afghans conducted last year (February- March 2005) that counted just over three million Afghans living in Pakistan.
