10 September 2016

News Story: Pakistan extends stay of Afghan refugees until March 2017

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Friday decided to extend the stay of the registered Afghan refugees until March 2017, officials said.

The period of the legal stay of the registered refugees in Pakistan was scheduled to end on December 31, 2016. However, the registered refugees are now allowed to stay until the end of March next year. Pakistan has issued Proof Registration (PoR) cards to refugees that legally allow their stay in Pakistan.

The cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided a three-month extension in the period of PoR cards, an official statement said.

Pakistan currently hosts around three million Afghan refugees, including 1.6 million registered while a similar number undocumented, according to UN refugee agency.

Read the full story at Xinhua