ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, is arriving in Pakistan on Saturday to meet government officials and to evaluate the agency’s emergency operations, UN officials said here on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference, United Nations Information Centre director Eric Falt said the high commissioner was scheduled to spend two days in Quetta. “He will have a first-hand look at UNHCR’s current state of readiness and at the ongoing preparations for a possible large-scale influx of Afghan refugees.”

According to the UNHCR, the Pakistan army and local tribal police (Khasadars) have been asked by the government to ensure security of the UNHCR staff and relief operations in the tribal areas of the country.

The directions were issued after an agreement was reached between the UNHCR, the Pakistan Commissioner for Afghan Refugees and Peshawar representatives of Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur Agencies on security arrangements in the tribal areas.