Pakistan has started the verification and collection of biometric data from Afghan refugees.
The spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Babar Malik , said on Wednesday, that it is the first time the refugees are to be issued smart cards.
He said the National Database and Registration Authority is collecting the data including skills and education from 1.4 million Afghan refugees.
He added that the refugees must be those who were registered in 2007 and issued Proof of Registration cards.
The data verification exercise is taking place after 10 years and is likely to be completed by April 2022.
According to him, over three million Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan and more than half are undocumented.
Pakistan hosts one of the world’s largest Afghan refugee community who fled after their country was invaded by the Soviet Union in 1979 or during later conflicts.
The country says it lacks the capacity to accommodate more refugees.
Earlier this month, Pakistani authorities deported hundreds of Afghans who crossed into the country via land routes after Taliban forces took Kabul.
Pakistan had announced the expulsion of Afghan refugees several times in the past, but these decisions were never carried out and deadlines were extended.
In 2018, Prime Minister, Imran Khan announced citizenship for Afghan refugees who were born and raised in Pakistan, however, there has been no further development since then.
