ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal government has announced the closure of five Afghan refugee camps in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a move linked to the country’s broader repatriation policy for Afghan citizens.
The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) issued an official notification in this regard on Friday.
Afghan refugee camps ordered to close
According to the government’s decision, three of the closed camps were located in Haripur, and one each in Chitral and Upper Dir.
Orders have also been issued to hand over the land to the provincial government and the respective deputy commissioners.
According to officials, the Panyan camp in Haripur, one of the largest and oldest Afghan settlements in Pakistan, has had been home to over 100,000 refugees for over 40 years.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has consistently reported that the majority of Afghan refugees in Pakistan reside in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
The formal closure of these camps would significantly impact thousands of families who have had been living in the province for decades.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur has publicly opposed the move, warning against what he called forced repatriation of Afghan refugees.
He urged the authorities to consider consider humanitarian concerns and the historical ties between the people of KP and Afghan citizens before taking a decision.
