ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lt General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch is presiding over an All Parties Conference (APC) in Islamabad on Monday to discuss the issue of Afghan refugees.
The leaders of different political parties including four Chief Ministers are attending the Conference in which consensus will be evolved on the repatriation of Afghan refugees till March 31, 2017.
The decision to call an APC was taken by the federal government in the wake of the new extension given to registered Afghan refugees to stay in Pakistan.
While talking to media on Sunday, the Additional Secretary SAFRON Captain (retd) Tariq Hayat said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed the SAFRON ministry to sit with the political leadership of all parties and develop consensus on the issue of Afghan refugees.
The additional secretary SAFRON said that a policy regarding stay or repatriation of those Afghan refugees, who had properties or businesses in Pakistan, would also be drafted. He said that the recommendations of the APC would be forwarded to the Federal Cabinet for approval.
On November 9 this year, the Federal Cabinet in its meeting held in Islamabad approved extension of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for Afghan refugees till March 31 next year.
Presiding over the federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister directed the SAFRON to hold broad based consultations with the national leaderships of mainstream political parties and Afghan representatives for addressing the concerns of Afghan refugees.
