ISLAMABAD: When the caretaker government last October (2023), citing the deteriorating law and order state of affairs, ordered all foreigners (read Afghans) sans papier (without papers) to leave Pakistan, repatriation commenced on 1st November and gradually 500,000 went back ‘home’.

But, all 1.5 million Afghan refugees harboring Proof of Registration (PoR) cards have been allowed by the incumbent government on Wednesday (10th July, 2024) to stay in Pakistan for another year assuaging their fear apropos forced repatriation.

PM house stated: “The federal cabinet approved one-year extension of the validity of PoR cards of 1.45 million Afghan refugees. Their PoR cards have expired on June 30, 2024. The extension has been granted until June 30, 2025.”

Interestingly, many of these Afghans were either born in Pakistan or lived here for four decades. The garbage picking afghan boys and men (who also fancy car accessories) might reappear after this decision on the roads of Pakistani cities.

This scribe never met any Afghan acknowledging Pakistan’s hospitality as they believe that their hosts had taken filled their pockets with billions of dollars provided, during Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, by USA and other international entities.

Newspakistan.tv