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OUR HISTORY AND INTRODUCTION

Commissionerate Afghan Refugees was established in 1979 under the Federal Government Orders to facilitate the Afghan Refugees who were crossing the borders and coming into Pakistan to find refuge due to the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

There is a Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR) in each Province of the country and having the Chief Commissionerate (CCAR) based in Islamabad. All the Commissionerates and the Chief Commissioner work under the Ministry of SAFRON, Islamabad.

At present Pakistan is hosting 1.42 million registered Afghan Refugees who are in possession of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, while 0.84 million newly documented Afghans (Afghan Citizen Card holders) and 0.5 million estimated un-registered Afghans are also residing in Pakistan. Among the registered Afghans, 68% are scattered in the urban and rural areas camps. Currently, the POR holders are being managed and voluntarily repatriated under Tripartite Agreement and facilitated through UNCHR’s voluntary repatriation program while the Proof of Registration (POR) Card gives them cover to stay temporarily in Pakistan. They are recognized as registered Refugees by UNHCR, while Govt. of Pakistan through policy decisions by Federal Cabinet and administrative arrangements extends them the same privileges and facilities as enjoyed elsewhere by Refugees, including the applicability of “Non-Refoulment under Tripartite Agreement”.

The chief Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees as an attached department of Ministry of States and Frontier Regions at the Federal level, alongwith Provincial Commissionerate’s, at the provincial level, is dealing with UNHCR as a main counterpart for management and repatriation of Afghan Refugees living in Pakistan.

Pakistan despite its economic and social pressures has demonstrated unparalleled generosity and hospitality in hosting Afghan refugees for four decades and adhered to the highest standards of protection and facilitation, which continued with more vigor during the pandemic.

We provide same education and health facilities to Afghan refugees and other segments of Afghans as extended to Pakistanis. They have free enrollment in Govt. primary schools and access to higher and professional education with generous scholarships. Plentiful livelihood opportunities are open to them with permission to open banks accounts.

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