PESHAWAR, April 20: The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees would continue to support voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees, Deputy High Commissioner of the agency, Wendy J Chamberlain, said here on Thursday.

She said that an agreement reached with the government of Pakistan on registration of Afghan citizens was aimed at documenting and managing Afghans living in Pakistan.

Talking to reporters during a visit to the Iris Validation Centre, she said that advanced technology would be used to compile the data, and the UNHCR would help raise $6 million needed for the project and would also provide technical assistance.

She said the information would also enable the Afghan government to start specific development schemes in areas where the refugees would return and to utilise qualified human resources, like teachers, the in nation-building process.

Regarding Pakistan’s decision to close down the Kacha Garhi refugee camp, she said many people were worried about the move as the camp housed thousands of refugees.

Earlier, she said the UNHCR would continue to support them till their rehabilitation in Afghanistan.

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