KHAR: The local administration has begun a ‘survey’ in Bajaur Agency to know about the number of Afghan refugees in the region.

Afghans have been living in the agency for three decades.

Sources in the region said several teams consisting of administration officials, levies personnel and elders of the respective areas had been formed to carry out door-to-door survey.

They said the survey teams began their activities in various areas bordering Mamond, Nawagai and Salarzai tehsils on Monday and would extend to other parts of the region.

Admin says no plan to drive refugees out of agency

The sources said the committees would collect a complete data of Afghan families and sources of their income.

They said all assets, including houses, shops and property of refugees, would be registered during the exercise.

The sources said all things of Afghan refugees which they made during their stay in the area would be noted.

Residents of Mamond tehsil said survey of Afghan refugees living with local Maliks had been launched in some villages.

“I see that some levies personnel along with elders collect particulars of Afghan refugees living in our village for years but I don’t know the reason for the exercise,” said Hazrat Gul, a resident of Larkholozo area in Mamond tehsil.

Local residents said scores of Afghan refugees living inside and outside local community were registered on the first day of the survey.

A senior official said the survey had been planned in line with the directives of the Fata secretariat.

“During the survey, teams will go from village to village in the entire agency to collect data of Afghans,” he said.

The official said the administration didn’t exactly know about the number of Afghan nationals living in the agency.

He, however, said the exercise wasn’t part of any plan to crack down on refugees.

“We haven’t planned to steer refugees out of the agency,” he said.

The official said the administration had asked local all elders to support with the administration in collection of information about the Afghan refugees in their respective areas.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play