UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the launch today of a country-wide campaign in Pakistan to verify and update the data of some 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees and to issue them with smart identity cards. The last large-scale verification of refugees in the country was undertaken 10 years ago. Registered refugees will be issued new smartcards with the capacity to hold biometric data. These cards, which will be valid for two years, will also be technologically compatible with systems used in Pakistan to authenticate the identities of nationals to access services.

UNHCR provides high-tech medical equipment worth Rs.710 million to Peshawar hospital

UNHCR Pakistan: KARACHI, 19 November 2018: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency on Monday inaugurated a skills development centre for vulnerable Afghan and non-Afghan refugees in Karachi.

UNHCR Pakistan: All registered Afghans in possession of valid Proof of Registration (PoR) cards are informed that UNHCR’s facilitated voluntary repatriation process will be suspended from 1 December 2018 until 28 February 2019 due to the winter season.

The voluntary repatriation program has been suspended on 30 November 2017 due to winter break and will resume on 1 March 2018

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi Friday said empowering youth and investing in their future will pay dividends for peace, security and prosperity. “Empowering Afghan and Pakistani youth through vocational training and livelihood projects is an important part of strengthening both communities,” said the High Commissioner during his visit to the Construction Technology Training Institute (CTTI) in Islamabad.

The UN refugee agency welcomed the federal government’s decision to extend the Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to some 1.4 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan until 30 June 2019.

Pakistan: Quetta: The UNHCR Representative undertook her first visit to Balochistan in September. During her visit, she inaugurated the skills development project for refugee and local women in Quetta. She also inaugurated the state-of-the-art laboratory at the Children Hospital. The Representative interacted with male and female refugee outreach volunteers and refugee elders from different refugee villages in Balochistan. She met with the Governor of Balochistan, Justice retired Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and discussed issues related to Afghan refugees in Balochistan.

Pakistan: Peshawar: In mid-August 2020, UNHCR and its partner, Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), handed over coveralls – produced by Afghan refugees – to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority in Peshawar. This initiative responded to the call to create livelihood opportunities to refugees. Skilled Afghan refugee tailors stitched the coveralls and non-medical face masks, and were able to earn from each item stitched.

Pakistan: Karachi: UNHCR handed over blankets, sleeping mates, jerrycans, and plastic sheets to the National Disaster Management Authority for onward distribution to Pakistani communities who were affected by floods and rainfall in Karachi and other parts of the Sindh province. UNHCR also supported Afghan refugees in Karachi.