KARACHI, June 9: About 550 displaced persons of 130 Afghan families on Friday left for their homeland under voluntary repatriation programme launched by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in 2002.

They had been living in Afghan refugees camps set up along Super Highway in 1985.

According to UNHCR Karachi Office chief Tahira Gulafshan, they left in buses and trucks destined for Kabul, Qandahar and Sandus. She said that they would enter Afghanistan via Chaman, Balochistan. Under the programme, she said that around 1,200 to 1,500 refugees were leaving for their hometown every week.

UNHCR Assistant Representative Indrika Ratwatte said that these repatriates were being issued voluntary repatriation forms which would entitle them for financial assistance from the UNHCR when they would reach their destinations. The transportation charges would also be paid to them at the same time to discourage their return to Pakistan in the mid-way. The amount of transport allowance would vary with destinations.

He said that the development of Afghanistan and better social conditions would attract these refugees and it was better than any foreign assistance.

Afghan Refugees Repatriation Cell Project Director Agha Jan Akhtar said that NADRA would launch a new census by the end of this year to record the actual figure of refugees currently staying in various localities of Pakistan.

The chairman of Mahajreen Camp at Super Highway, Haji Abdullah Bukhari, thanked the government and people of Pakistan for extending hospitality and support to Afghan brothers who had stayed here for long.

—APP