|
Afghans were counted alongside Pakistanis in census: chief census commissioner
[DAWN] One of the reasons for the increase in the country’s population was that Afghan refugees were counted alongside Pak citizens, Chief Census Commissioner Asif Bajwa said on Monday.Addressing a presser, the chief statistician said the Pakistain Bureau of Statistics would soon announce the actual number of Afghans living in Pakistain. "We will be in a position to estimate the exact number once reports are finalised," he said, adding that Afghans would be declared "non-locals". Since 2005, after getting proof of residence cards, Afghan refugees were allowed to live among Pakistani citizens. At the time of the 1998 census, all Afghan refugees were living in refugee camps. According to statistics provided by the UNHCR, around 1.3 million Afghan refugees are currently in Pakistain. But unregistered Afghan refugees are reportedly present in much greater numbers. Posted by: Fred 2017-09-13 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=497172 |