5,372 Afghan refugees sent to Canada, UK in last four months

By Shakeel Anjum
December 31, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The International Organisation for Immigrants (IOM) has transported 1,845 Afghan refugees, staying in Islamabad to Canada and United Kingdom during the month of December 2023, under refugees’ settlement programme, the sources said Thursday.

Overall, 5,372 Afghan refugees have been shifted to Canada and UK during the last four months – September to December 2023 – including 910 in September, 620 in October, 1997 in November and 1845 in December 2023.

Afghan nationals queue up at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 17, 2021, to return back to Afghanistan. — AFP
Afghan nationals queue up at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 17, 2021, to return back to Afghanistan. — AFP

The Afghan refugees left for Toronto and London in six charter flight – 330 refugees on 5th December for Canada, 350 on 12th December for Canada, 250 on 13th December for UK, 345 on 14th December for Canada, 250 on 18th December and 320 Afghan refugees on 19th December for Canada.

The sources said that further refugees could not be shifted to Canada, UK, USA or Germany due to the Chrisman holidays.