The worldwide refugee figures released by UN High Commissioner for Refugees on World Refugee Day, June 20, 2019, mention a staggering figure of 68.5 million forcibly displaced persons. This cold statistic, when viewed from the purely human angle, hides unimaginable pain, anguish and suffering, uncertainty about future and contempt faced by refugees in primitive makeshift camps. For their courage, indomitable spirit and perseverance, they deserve the world’s sympathy and unstinted moral and material support. The PM’s decision on Monday, self-confessedly late in coming, permitting registered Afghan refugees to open bank accounts in Pakistan, conduct transactions and to participate in the formal economy, has, unsurprisingly, been universally welcomed by Afghan refugees’ councils. Hopefully the PM’s move, the first ray, will lead on to the light at the end of the tunnel for suffering Afghan refugees, through negotiated settlement achieved in ongoing US-Taliban peace talks.

Source: Pakistan Today February 26, 2019 14:32 UTC