UNHCR to conduct Afghan refugee census in Sindh

KARACHI: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will conduct a census of the Afghan refugees living in the province. The decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of the UNHCR representative for Pakistan Ruven Menikdiwela, with the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday.

The UNHCR was seeking NOC to begin work for rehabilitating street children with an earmarked fund of $200 million. The chief minister directed the chief secretary and the commissioner Karachi to provide NOC to the UNHCR. Shah told the UNHCR country representative that the provincial government is taking steps to abolish child beggary and is also establishing shelter homes for them. However, he said the government does not have any correct estimates regarding the number of Afghan and refugees of other nationals living in the province. He asked the UNHCR to conduct a census for the purpose so food, water and other resources could be allocated to them. According to UNHCR, 1.38 million Afghans are registered as refugees living in Pakistan. Besides, lakhs of refugees are also putting up without a formal refugee status. As many as 50,000 Afghans are living in Karachi alone but the figure remains disputed.