May 22, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 05, 1428

PESHAWAR, May 21: Ruling out any extension in the deadline for the closing down of the refugee camps in the Katcha Garhi and Jalozai areas, NWFP Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Nasir Azam Khan has said the two camps will be closed down as per schedule.

In a statement issued here on Monday, the commissioner said the Katcha Garhi camp would be closed down by June 30, while the Jalozai camp would face a similar fate by August 31.

He said elders of the Afghan refugees had already been informed of the decision, adding that negotiations with them were still under way to finalise plans for the refugees’ repatriation.

The commissioner denied rumours about an extension, terming them incorrect.

He said the repatriation of Afghan refugees living in the Katcha Garhi camp, had been under way since April 19 and the camp would be closed down by June 30 after the completion of the process.

He said no further extension would be given to the camp as the decision to close down the camp had been taken at a meeting of representatives of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UNHCR.—APP