The Government of Pakistan has extended the residency of 1.45 million Afghan migrants holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for another year. This decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, July 10.
Under this new decision, Afghan migrants with PoR cards can stay in Pakistan until June 30, 2025.
This extension comes as Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, during his three-day visit to Pakistan, urged Pakistani authorities to renew the residency cards for Afghan migrants.
Grandi welcomed Pakistan’s decision, stating, “I welcome the news upon my return from Pakistan that Proof of Registration cards for Afghan refugees have been extended for one year. It’s good to see Pakistan’s important tradition of hospitality maintained. As discussed with the government, we now need to focus on solutions and sustainable support.”
Meanwhile, Qaiser Afridi, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency, informed the media that 52% of Afghan refugees with PoR cards reside in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 315,000 in Balochistan, 195,000 in Punjab, 75,000 in Sindh, 40,000 in Islamabad, and some in Kashmir under Pakistan’s administration.
Since its inception in 2006, Pakistan has distributed PoR cards to Afghan migrants, which have been renewed five times since then.
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