PESHAWAR, Oct 11: The government has decided to close down Katcha Garhi and Jalozai refugee camps in Peshawar and Nowshera districts next year.

According to the revised plan, Kacha Garhi camp will be closed by April, 2007 while Jalozai camp will be evacuated soon after the repatriation of refugees from Katcha Garhi camp.

A meeting here on Wednesday discussed repatriation plan of the displaced persons from the Katcha Garhi and Jalozai camps and took certain decisions in this regard, a handout said.

Chief Secretary Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi presided over the meeting.

Earlier, the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees had chalked out an evacuation plan according to which Katcha Garhi camp was to be closed by April last while Jalozai camp was scheduled to be closed down by June last. However, Afghan elders refused to vacate camps and had requested the government to give one year’s extension. While the government had planned that refugees should go back to their country under the UN voluntary repatriation programme or they would be relocated to other camps in the province.

The handout said that the Wednesday’s meeting was unanimous to immediately hold meetings with the elders of Afghan refugees of the camps and give them a deadline for voluntary repatriation.

The meeting also discussed various options including law and order implications, deployment of law-enforcement personnel and registration arrangements.