July 24, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 20, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 23: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has said that registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan will be repatriated by October 2009.

UNHCR representative Guenet Guebre-Christors said after a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza at the Parliament House on Wednesday that the process of repatriation would be resumed after the improvement of security situation in Afghanistan and would be completed by October next year.

She said the world body had been closely working with Pakistan to provide basic amenities to the refugees and had spent $100 million for the purpose last year. During the meeting, Dr Fehmida said the world community should take responsibility for the repatriation of the refugees and come forward to complete the process.

She said Pakistan had been hosting millions of Afghan refugees since 1979 and it was a matter of great concern for the country. Creating an atmosphere in Afghanistan suitable for repatriation was the responsibility of the international community, she added.

The speaker said the UNHCR budget for Afghan refugees had been declining with the passage of time and had now been reduced to $4 per annum. The donors had also withdrawn or reduced their support.

The UNHCR representative briefed the speaker on the latest position about refugees in Pakistan and the repatriation programme.

She said Pakistan had been generously hosting over six million refugees for a long time, extending hospitality beyond expectation. The UNHCR and the world community, she added, sincerely appreciated Pakistans hospitality.