Pakistan has extended validity of the Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for 1.3 million Afghan refugees to 30 June 2025, senior government officials and United Nations representatives have confirmed.
The registration cards expired in June 2024, after which it was stated that these cardholder refugees would also be deported like illegal foreigners. However, the federal cabinet in Islamabad extended the validity of the cards by another year. The decision was made just a day after the visit of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi to Pakistan. The visiting UN official also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar, and Minister for Border Affairs Amir Muqam besides other senior officials. During the three-day visit, Filippo Grandi also met the Afghan refugees living in Pakistan and visited their camps.
Speaking with Jarida Today, UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Qaisar Khan Afridi welcomed Islamabad’s decision to extend the registration cards till June 2025. “I am sure that this decision is a big relief for refugees who are facing uncertainty and anxiety,” he said. He said that this generous gesture demonstrated Pakistan’s commitment to the global refugee cause and showed solidarity and compassion towards immigrants at a time when displaced people need support.
Pak Afghan Youth Forum Director Salman Javed told Jarida Today that the card extension will benefit the refugees by allowing them to continue accessing critical services such as healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. “As we can observe Afghan nationals can receive legal protection against harassment through these registration cards besides all rights,” he said. “For me, this extension will offer temporary relief and stability to the registered Afghan nationals,” he said. According to a UNHCR statement, Filippo Grandi stated that the decision to deport illegal refugees has been suspended.
The statement mentioned that Pakistan will not implement the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) until further announcement. The statement said that the visiting UN representative offered authorities in Islamabad that a wide-scale dialogue would be organized this year, to which all stakeholders would be invited. However, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch denied Filippo Grandi’s claim that Pakistan has suspended the plan to expel illegal refugees.
Last week, she said that Pakistan has not given any such assurance and will work through the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. When contacted, the UNHCR spokesperson was unaware of the matter. However, Salman Javed said that Filippo Grandi has suggested that Pakistan might suspend or alter the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan to avoid forced repatriations, especially given the registration card extension.
In contrast, he said that the Foreign Office insisted that no such understanding has been communicated and that IFRP remains in effect and was being implemented orderly. In October 2023, the government started the first phase of deporting illegal immigrants from Pakistan. As a result of the crackdown, more than 0.5 million illegal refugees have returned to their homeland. According to UNHCR, the total number of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan is around three million.
Among Afghan refugees, 1.3 million have proof of registration cards which can last for one more year under the new decision. While there are 0.85 million Afghan citizen card holders. Apart from that, 1 to 1.2 million are residing illegally, as per the available data. It is pertinent to .mention here that the registration cards must be verified by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to enable Afghan nationals to open a bank account, rent a home, obtain a SIM card, etc.
Saad Uddin, holder of the Proof of Registration card, told Jarida Today that he was happy over Pakistan government’s decision in favor of the Afghan nationals. “I am sure that this decision will alleviate all legal uncertainties of our community,” he said, adding this step will ensure a safe stay in Pakistan. As a card holder refugee, he expressed his gratitude for this supportive measure of the government in Islamabad.
“I can request to higher officials and policymakers in Pakistan to develop a national policy to facilitate and integrate refugees into Pakistani society,” he said, and pointed out a visible contribution of Afghan nationals in this country. “Our host nation has to think and rethink about us as our third generation is now growing up in Pakistan,” he said. Laila Fatima, another card holder, told Jarida Today that the Pakistani government should include Afghan refugees in decision making process.
“I believe that refugees’ inclusion in decision making will ensure more effective and comprehensive policies that would play vital role in the national development and prosperity of Pakistan as well,” she said. Jamal-ud-Din, also a card holder who runs a mobile repairing shop in Quetta, said that he was happy after hearing about the decision. Born and raised in Pakistan, he said that the government must legitimize their stay here as they were living here for decades. He said that this temporary extension might bring happiness but they need a permanent solution.