January 24, 2017: CODE PAKISTAN held the second round of National Consultations on Afghan Refugees in Islamabad today. The event was part of CODE PAKISTAN’s ongoing project “National Consultations on Afghan Refugees: From Ideas to Implementation” in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Commissioner Afghan Refugees, Ministry of SAFRON, Government of Pakistan, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The project is aimed at responding to the need for a comprehensive national legislation and policy formulation on Afghan refugees by sensitizing the Government of Pakistan on evolving a comprehensive policy on voluntary repatriation and management of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The first round of consultations was held on January 10, 2017. While the first round was aimed at having a general discussion on the subject, today’s round was dedicated to generating practical recommendations for the Government of Pakistan with respect to Afghan refugees in the country. Chief Commissioner Afghan Refugees Dr. Imran Zeb attended the event and appreciated the efforts of CODE PAKISTAN in organizing the consultations. In his welcome address, he said that most of the ideas generated from the first round of consultations are under consideration by the government. He urged the participants of the second round to focus on the way forward by giving practical recommendations to the Government of Pakistan with a clear action plan on how to implement the given recommendations. Representative UNHCR Mr. Indrika Ratwatte also appreciated the efforts of CODE PAKISTAN on the occasion and highlighted the importance of holding such important national consultations on the management of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. CODE PAKISTAN is aiming to produce a comprehensive report based on the proceedings of the two rounds of consultations containing policy recommendations for the Government of Pakistan. Today’s consultations comprised of six simultaneous sessions on the following six themes:
1. Existing Legal Mechanisms to Manage Afghan Refugees in Pakistan: The Application of National and International Legal Instruments;
2. Institutional Mechanisms for the Management of Refugees in Pakistan: Past and Future;
3. The Emerging International Climate on Refugee Management: How should Pakistan Respond?
4. Tapping into the Economic Growth Potential of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan;
5. Political response to Afghan Refugees in Pakistan;
6. Islam and Muhajireen: Viewing Pakistan\’s Afghan Refugee Phenomenon from the Lens of Islamic Discourses on Hijrah.
CODE PAKISTAN had shared the key takeaways of the first round of consultations with the participants of the second round to help them in drafting recommendations around each of the six themes. We hope to conclude the two rounds of consultations with a comprehensive report including policy recommendations, which will be shared with key government officials through the Ministry of SAFRON. Today’s event was widely attended by relevant officials of the Government of Pakistan, development professionals, academics, religious scholars, and representatives of think tanks. Some of the participants of the second round of consultations on Afghan refugees were as follows: Chief Commissioner Afghan Refugees Dr. Imran Zeb, Representative UNHCR Mr. Indrika Ratwatte, Head of Delegation ICRC Mr. Reto Stocker, Head of IOM in Pakistan Mr. Davide Terzi, Mr. Tariq Hayat from Ministry of SAFRON, Dean LUMS School of Law Dr. Martin Lau, former Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan Amb. Arif Ayub, Maj. Gen. Saad Khattak (Retd.), Ex-Minister AJK Ms. Farzana Yaqoob, Refugee Coordinator U.S. Embassy Islamabad Mr. Patrick Wingate, Commissioner Afghan Refugees Sindh Mr. Agha Ghazanfar, Commissioner Afghan Refugees Balochistan Brig. Masood Khan (Retd.), DG (Research) NACTA Mr. Mohammad Jafar, Interim Country Director Norwegian Refugee Council Mr. Adil Ahmed, Executive Director SHARP Mr. Liaqat Binori, international law expert Mr. Jamal Khan RSIL, expert on Afghan refugee issues Mr. Wahid Gul, Reporter of Geo News Mr. Azaz Syed, Membership and Partnership Coordinator at Pakistan Humanitarian Forum Ms. Rabia Sabri, Station Head BOL TV Quetta Mr. Shahzada Zulfiqar, journalist Mr. Rahimullah Yusufzai, spokesman of Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabia Maulana Abdul Qudoos, former senator Maulana Rahat Hussain, and representatives from NDU, NADRA and Police.
CODE PAKISTAN is thankful to all the distinguished participants of today’s consultations as well as the consultations on January 10. For Pictures of the event, please visit our Facebook Page. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the office of the Chief Commissioner Afghan Refugees, Ministry of SAFRON, Government of Pakistan, especially the Chief Commissioner himself for taking keen personal interest in the consultations.