Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Minister for States and Frontier Regions Shehryar Khan Afridi said Pakistan is incurring billions of dollars to facilitate Afghan refugees with immense contribution in all fields in hosting them.
He made these remarks at an informal session of informal Quadripartite (Q4) meeting held at Geneva on the sidelines of the 70th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Prog-ramme, said a message received here.
Shehryar Afridi said that Pakistan had been incurring billions of dollars to facilitate the Afghan refugees in health, education, protection, documentation, trainings, livelihood and other welfare initiatives.
He said that the latest initiative taken to facilitate the Afghan refugees is that they have been allowed to open and operate bank accounts.
‘Pakistan doesn’t seek praise for its commitment towards welfare and well being of Afghan refugees. Pakistan needs acknowledgement and commitment from other partners in burden and responsibility sharing,’ the Minister added. Afridi stressed that prosperous world must do more in a predictable manner for their contributions. Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have agreed to take forward the three pillars of the strategy for voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees, sustainable reintegration in home country and support for host countries. The agreement was reached at an informal session of informal Quadripartite (Q4) meeting held at Geneva on the sidelines of the 70th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme, said a message received here.
The Q4 group informally and in principle agreed that Global Refugees Forum being held in December should showcase the good work done for Afghan refugees. It was observed that the shortcomings that still exist in management of Afghan refugees and their gradual and voluntary repatriation should be plugged.
The meeting also agreed in principle for ‘Support Platform’ that would include additional players, expected to contribute to this cause for both the host and home countries. The Q4 was attended by Minister for States
