1.55 mln registered Afghan Refugees residing in Pakistan: Senate Informed

ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed on Thursday, that at present 1.55 million registered Afghan Refugees are residing in Pakistan. Minister for States and Frontier Region Abdul Qadir Baloch told the House during the question hours, that the Prime Minister recently extended the legal stay of registered Afghan refugees till 30th of June this year. However, there is also a proposal for extension of these refugees for till the end of next year.  The Minister said since 2002, 3.9 million Afghan refugees have been repatriated to their homeland. Replying to a supplementary, he said Pakistan has commitment with the international community to repatriate Afghan Refugees with dignity and honour. He said the issue of repatriation has repeatedly been taken up with the Afghan government but it has expressed inability to provide necessary facilities and incentives for return of Refugees to their homeland. Minister for Railway Khawaja Saad Rafique informed the House there is a proposal for laying a new railway track from Havelian to Khunjerab. He said the project is part of China-Pak Economic Corridor and is likely to commence under long term plan of the CPEC. Minister for Law Pervaiz Rashid told the House that the proposal to amend the land reforms act 1977 as per direction of the Shariat Appellant Bench of the Supreme Court has been referred to the Counsel of Common Interest. He said the meeting of Counsel of Common Interest is expected to be held soon. The house expressed condolences over sad demise of prominent Arab journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of Egyptian Newspaper Al-Ahram Mohamed Hassanein Heikal.   The House has now been prorogued.