Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind said a phased strategy has already been finalised to repatriate Afghan refugees within a period of next two years.
Talking to PTV he said four refugee camps would be closed this year. Two each in NWFP and Balochistan. Katcha Garhi and Jungle Pir Alizai camps would be closed by June 15, while Jalozai and Girdi Jungle camps would be closed by the end of August.
More than 3 million Afghans have returned home from Pakistan with UNHCR assistance since 2002. Another 860,000 Afghans have been assisted home from Iran.
About the registration of Afghan refugees, he said over 2.1 million had already been registered and the exercise was near completion. Registered Afghans are given Proof of Registration (PoR) cards with a validity of three years.
Under the new arrangement, PoR holders who wish to repatriate must deregister their card before leaving Pakistan in order to receive an enhanced reintegration package when they arrive in Afghanistan. Responding to a question he said no camp has been razed by force. Only empty houses were razed on local's desire.
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