ISLAMABAD: The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would complete the repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland by December, 2012.

Talking to APP, an official of the UNHCR said townships had been set up in nine Afghan provinces where the refugees would be settled.

To a question, he said the government of Pakistan will no longer be responsible for them after the due date.

The refugees are bound to strictly follow the directives of the government of Pakistan about their repatriation, said the official.

According to a recent report, Pakistan plays host to 1.7 million registered Afghan refugees out of which 386,000 children are of school-going age.