Peshawar: The KP government has contacted the Afghan Consulate to bring back more than 1,000 people stranded in Afghanistan. Initially, a list of 600 people has been handed over to the Consulate, along with an order to immediately deport 318 Afghan refugees from Peshawar Central Jail.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mehsud in which the provision of facilities to the returning Afghan refugees and the resolution of the problems faced by them were reviewed.

The meeting decided to establish a second holding camp in Landi Kotal, improve facilities in the existing camp, increase NADRA counters from 22 to 40, make separate arrangements for women, extend working hours till 11 pm and provide additional facilities.

The meeting was informed that the Afghan Consulate has been contacted to bring back 1,000 people stranded in Afghanistan. Initially, a list has been handed over to the Afghan Consulate to bring back 600 people.

The meeting was informed that instructions were also issued to establish registration centers in different districts to reduce the rush in the camps for the return of Afghan refugees, while ensuring full provision of food, water and security to the refugees.

The meeting also decided that 318 Afghan nationals detained in Central Jail Peshawar under the Foreign Act will be deported immediately, for which arrangements have been completed.

The meeting directed the Director General NADRA, Director General PDMA and Deputy Commissioner Tribal District Khyber to visit Landi Kotal tomorrow and expedite the return of refugees with facilities and establish separate holding camps.

The meeting, chaired by Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mehsud, was attended by Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah, Provincial Minister for Auqaf and Religious Affairs Adnan Qadri, Director General NADRA Khalid Inayatullah, Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Captain (retd) Sanaullah, Deputy Commissioner Khyber District Captain (retd) Bilal Rao, and senior officials of NADRA, TESCO, Prisons, Home Department, PDMA and other relevant institutions.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to make mutual communication more effective and utilize all available resources to ensure the dignified return of Afghan refugees.