Pakistan: Smartcard registration drive for Afghan refugees ends

The bureau commended the Government of Pakistan for its country-wide campaign, the agency’s spokesperson, Babar Baloch, told journalists successful Geneva.

“Following a abbreviated pilot, the campaign, supported by UNHCR, began connected 15 April 2021 and ended connected 31 December 2021”, helium said.

Among those included were 200,000 children nether five, registered by their exile parents. 

ID cards

The documentation renewal and accusation verification workout – officially known arsenic DRIVE - besides provided the refugees with astute individuality cards.

“More than 700,000 caller astute individuality cards person been issued to date. The remaining cards volition beryllium printed and distributed successful aboriginal 2022”, said Mr. Baloch. 

The cards, which volition beryllium valid until 30 June 2023, incorporate biometric information and are technologically compatible with systems utilized successful Pakistan to authenticate the identities of nationals. 

“The caller astute individuality cards are an indispensable extortion instrumentality for Afghan refugees and springiness them faster and safer entree to wellness and acquisition facilities and to banking services”, explained the UNHCR spokesperson. 

Tailoring assistance

DRIVE besides offered Afghan refugees an accidental to emblem immoderate circumstantial extortion needs oregon vulnerabilities.

“More elaborate accusation astir refugees’ socioeconomic information volition let for amended tailored assistance successful Pakistan and for enactment successful lawsuit refugees determine to instrumentality home, erstwhile conditions allow”, said the UN official. 

Over 40 verification sites were operational crossed Pakistan during DRIVE, portion mobile registration vans facilitated Afghan refugees surviving successful distant areas.

From enhanced hygiene to carnal distancing and scheduling acceptable numbers of appointments each day, strict measures were upheld during the workout to mitigate COVID-19 risks.

Spreading the word

A wide accusation run was besides carried out to explicate to Afghan refugees the intent of the run on with however they tin participate. 

DRIVE is portion of a wider effort to assistance and support Afghan refugees, including done the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) support platform. 

SSAR was launched successful 2019 to assistance exile big countries portion besides seeking to put successful exile instrumentality areas successful Afghanistan.