Pakistan's Minister for States and Frontier Regions Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind has met United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Gutteres in Geneva, an official statement said. Rind underlined to the High Commissioner that despite the heavy burden on its own national economy, Pakistan had maintained its strong commitment to the protection of the Afghan refugees. He said that the Government of Pakistan is now working closely with the UNHCR to complete the planned repatriation programme. In this context, the minister urged the UNHCR to continue to provide the enhanced repatriation package to the returning refugees. Gutteres, who is the former Prime Minister of Portugal, acknowledged Pakistan's longstanding commitment and its substantial contribution in hosting the Afghan refugees for more than a quarter of century despite enormous pressure on its economy.
