KARACHI, Nov 15: The UN-sponsored campaign to register Afghan refugees in Pakistan has not been receiving an enthusiastic response from the refugees as the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra), entrusted with the task, is yet to register 10 per cent of the refugees in one month after launching of the exercise.

Officials of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and provincial chief of the Nadra held a press conference at the Karachi Press Club where they said that some 255,000 Afghans in Pakistan had so far been registered in a government exercise to give official identification to Afghan citizens in the country.

In Sindh, a total of 135,734 Afghans were enumerated in the census last year of them some 30,000 have so far got themselves registered, Indrika Ratwatte, the UNHCR’s Assistant Representative in Pakistan, told media.

Nadra’s Abid Haider Kazmi said 45 per cent of those registered in Sindh were female proving that the photograph requirement had not deterred women from coming forward. He said 48 per cent were children under the age of 14.

Mr Ratwatte admitted that there was a variety of reasons, including the sense of insecurity among Afghan refugees in Pakistan, which had been keeping them away from the registration process.

“With only weeks to go for the registration process to end, we’re urging all Afghans counted in the 2005 census to come and get themselves registered,” said Mr Ratwatte, adding that the registration card, generally called ‘Proof of Registration (PoR)’ would ensure its holder’s three-year legalised stay in Pakistan. “During this time period, we may help them find a solution to their problems.”

He said that the UNHCR and Nadra were trying their level best to register each and every Afghan refugee enumerated in the last year’s census, adding that the DPs also should not lose the opportunity.Mr Kazmi said the present set up had the capacity to register 1,000 refugees a day in Karachi and the capacity could be enhanced.

The UNHCR official said that as per the March 2005 census, there were more than 135,734 Afghans living in Sindh at that time, but around 35,000 had since returned home. He said the rate of registration in Karachi was the highest in any part of Pakistan.

“The facilities at the centres here may be inadequate, yet the response from refugees is appreciable,” said Mr Kazmi.

“The registration process is going on well here, but we can do better,” said Mr Ratwatte.

He said: “Nadra has amended the software to make it easier to find names from the census lists. We’re also streamlining the process to speed up the printing and distribution of PoR cards.”

The registration exercise had commenced on October 15 and is expected to end on December 31. The $6 million exercise has received contributions so far from the European Commission, the US and the UK.