Pak seeks world help to repatriate Afghans

GENEVA—Pakistan has called on the international community to step up efforts for the repatriation and rehabilitation of the Afghan refugees, underlining that Pakistan had dealt with the heaviest refugee population since World War II.
Ambassador Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, made this call while addressing the inaugural session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “Local Pakistani inhabitants and communities also need attention and assistance for restoring their confidence and rebuilding their livelihoods and neighborhoods”, he said.
For its part, Ambassador Khan said, Pakistan had been making consistent efforts: 2.1 million refugees had been registered; a three year (2007 to 2009) strategy had been devised by the Government of Pakistan for the Afghan refugees living in Pakistan; the Kachi Garhi camp had been closed; and the Jalozai camp will be closed down in spring 2008.
The Pakistani ambassador appreciated the efforts being made by the US, NATO-led international security force ISAF - and the Government of Afghanistan for improving the security situation in Afghanistan, but stressed the need for creating the “pull factor”.
“Besides provision of security, shelter and other essential amenities like health, education and water, one way to achieve this objective is to design individual or family return packages for utilization of skilled and unskilled refugees “ in labor intensive reconstruction projects inside Afghanistan, he said.
Ambassador Khan also asked the UN and international community as a whole to commit more resources for repairing damage to the environment in Pakistan caused by the prolonged presence of the refugees on Pakistani soil.
“Local Pakistani inhabitants and communities also need attention and assistance for restoring their confidence and rebuilding their livelihoods and neighborhoods”, he said.
The ExCom meeting was addressed by Antonio Gutteres, High Commissioner for Refugees, who congratulated Pakistan and Bangladesh for taking steps to resolve the issue of the Biharis.
Sir John Homes, UN Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, asked the international community to commit more funds for dealing with the emergencies such as floods in Pakistan and other parts of South Asia this summer.—APP