PESHAWAR: Assistance to DPs will continue - minister
By Bureau report
PESHAWAR, June 20: NWFP Minister for Social Welfare, Zakat and Woman Development Hafiz Hashmat has said that the MMA government would carry on its efforts to host Afghan refugees until the completion of repatriation.
Hafiz Hashmat was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the World Refugee Day here at the Khyber Union Hall in Islamia College, Peshawar University, on Sunday.
"Repatriation is the only solution to the refugee problem and we want world leaders to help settle refugees, who can't go home, in a third country," Mr Hashmat said.
Additional commissioner of social welfare cell at the Afghan Commissionarate, Waheed Khattak, in his speech said that the Pakistan government was active in facilitating all the non-governmental agencies for durable solution of the refugees' problem.
This year 1,50,000 refugees have returned home with the collaboration of the UNHCR, he added. Refugee children from various schools under Basic Education for Afghan Refugees (BEFARe) and Basic Education and Employable Skill (BEST) presented songs and skits.
Stalls were set up by different implementing partners and agencies, exhibiting the art and craft of Afghans, promoting their creativity and expressing their cultural identity.
The exhibition reflected the income generation projects undertaken by local and international partners for refugees. The chief guest later on visited the Iris Validation and Departure Centre, Hayatabad, accompanied by Maricela Daniel, Senior Protection Officer, UNHCR, Peshawar, and other officials and dignitaries where he distributed peace packs among the repatriating refugees at the departure centre.
