Islamabad – IOM Pakistan hosted an event in Islamabad to mark the conclusion of multi-purpose cash assistance activity for Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and supported by the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR). IOM used the opportunity to also celebrate the International Migrants Day (IMD).  The Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), Mr. Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan was the Guest of Honour and other attendees included officials from CAR, the First Secretary at the German Embassy in Pakistan Mr. Andreas Wutz, donor counterparts and representatives of UN agencies.  Beneficiaries of the project also participated in the event and were handed over assistance by the Minister. 

IOM, in partnership with CAR, is rolling out a project aiming to support 3,500 selected ACC holders through multi-purpose cash assistance to address their basic humanitarian and protection needs, with a focus on those particularly vulnerable. The project beneficiaries have been selected through support from CAR/National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). The assistance is provided to identified beneficiaries in Quetta (Balochistan); Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Haripur (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa); and Islamabad/ Kalakahar (ICT/Punjab), in close coordination with the Government of Pakistan. 

“IOM is committed to working with the Government of Pakistan and humanitarian counterparts to ensure that the rights of all migrants are protected and respected and that they are able to live in dignity,” said Ms. Mio Sato, Chief of Mission at IOM Pakistan. Ms. Mio also thanked the Embassy of Germany for its support to IOM’s activities in Pakistan and the Government of Pakistan for cooperation and coordination in implementing activities.
During the event, the Minister for SAFRON also affirmed the government’s commitment to continue to provide support to Afghan refugees and support the provision of basic facilities for the welfare of Afghan refugees and ACC holders in Pakistan. 

The event offered participants and organizers an important opportunity to directly engage with some of the project beneficiaries. One of the beneficiaries Mr. Faizullah spoke to the audience, expressing his gratitude for the Government of Pakistan, the German Government and IOM for providing assistance. Another beneficiary Ms. Malika Ahmadi shared her experience of leaving Afghanistan in 2007 after she was injured in an incident in Kabul. Malika lives in Rawalpindi with her daughter and son, who is a street vendor selling potato chips and supports the family. Malika shared that despite the challenges and hardships of living as a refugee, she does not want to go back to Afghanistan any time soon. She hopes that her daughter can have the opportunity to get higher education and be able to support her family and her community.

At present, Pakistan is home to over 2.84 million Afghans which includes approximately 1.4 million refugees holding a Proof of Registration (PoR) card, about 840,000 ACC holders, and up to 0.6 million undocumented Afghan migrants. Pakistan is the third largest host country in the world for people who have been forced to flee the conflict in Afghanistan for 40 years. For ACC holders, owing to nature of their status, these populations have largely remained under the radar and missed out on systematic assistance, especially during the recent pandemic and latest events, which have compounded pre-existing vulnerabilities. The delivery of assistance to the ACC holders represents an important milestone.