ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (Safron) on Thursday took serious notice of slow repatriation of Afghan refugees to their country.

The committee, which met in the parliament house under the chairmanship of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hasani, directed the ministry of Safron to take necessary measures to accelerate the pace of repatriation.

It expressed its concern over the fact that despite continuation of repatriation process during last few years, 2.4 million Afghan refugees were still present in Pakistan.

The committee noted with concern difference of service structure of federal and provincial Levies in spite of similar nature of their duties. It discussed various suggestions to improve and strengthen federal Levies and asked the ministry to take steps in this direction.

Chairman Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hasani constituted a five-member sub-committee headed by MNA Raees Munir Ahmed to review the service structure of the levies and forward its recommendations to the committee within one month.

The committee asked the ministry to ensure maximum repatriation of Afghan refugees and stop their return as they were affecting economy, security and infrastructure etc.

The meeting was also attended by Muhammad Fiaz Tamman and Maulana Sayed Nek Zaman, Dr Attaur Rehman, Baktiar Manni, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasir, Ch Qamar Zaman Kaira and Minister for Safron Yar Muhammad.