Pakistan: Follow-up to PAK31077.E of 24 February 1999 on status of Afghan refugees
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 22 December 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK33448.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Follow-up to PAK31077.E of 24 February 1999 on status of Afghan refugees, 22 December 1999, PAK33448.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad6e94.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the First Secretary (Consular) of the High Commission for Pakistan (Ottawa):
Afghans who visit Pakistan on valid Pakistan visa are not treated as refugees but are considered similar to other foreign visitors to Pakistan.
Shanakhti pass is a document given to Afghan Refugees by the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees identifying them as refugees.
There are a number of Afghan refugees, primarily amongst the new arrivals (those who entered Pakistan after the Russian occupation forces left Afghanistan in 1989) and some few others who still remain unregistered. All the same they hold a similar status as Afghan refugees who hold Shanakhti Passes.
The Government of Pakistan has not imposed any formal restrictions on Afghan Refugees to engage in lawful employment, to provide for themselves and their families, as they are not receiving now any financial aid from any source. However no work permits have officially been given to Afghan Refugees by the Government of Pakistan.
There is no restriction on Afghan Refugees relating to the period of their residence in Pakistan. However efforts are under-way for their voluntary safe and Honourable repatriation to Afghanistan which is the final objective.
Though the Government of Pakistan is neither a signatory to the Convention of 1951 nor the Protocol of 1967, has continued to grant refugee [status] to those Afghans (numbering around 1.5 million approximately) who have not yet opted to return back to their homeland. It may be mentioned here that all the laws applicable to the local citizens apply to the Afghan Refugees during their temporary stay in Pakistan. The provisions of foreigners' registration acts and other such rules pertaining to the other foreigners residing in Pakistan do not apply to those Afghan Refugees (7 Dec. 1999).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
High Commission for Pakistan, Ottawa. 7 December 1999. Correspondence from First Secretary (Consular).