UNHCR has publicly expressed concern about the government’s recent decision to de-notify sixteen refugee villages in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and the implementation of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) that asks many to leave Pakistan.
Many Afghan refugees have lived in these villages for decades, building homes and livelihoods; a rapid forced return would cause immediate hardship, disrupt established economic activity and complicate prospects for safe reintegration in Afghanistan.
“Return of refugees should be organized, phased, voluntary, in dignity and safety, with respect for rights and protection of those in need,” said UNHCR Representative Philippa Candler, underscoring the need for orderly processes and exemptions for people facing persecution.
UNHCR notes that Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over 45 years and that there remain individuals in the country who would be at grave risk if obliged to return; these people should be exempted from the IFRP to prevent refoulement and further harm.
The agency is particularly worried about women and girls who may be forced back to an environment where their rights to work and education are at risk, and calls for protections that prevent further disadvantage to already vulnerable households.
UNHCR urges the government to allow phased, voluntary returns and to grant legal stay or exemptions for Afghan refugees with medical needs, those pursuing higher education, and those in mixed marriages, while working together to identify solutions that respect Pakistan’s concerns and uphold international protection obligations.
