SWABI: The authorities have directed the heads of public sector educational institutions to provide them with complete information about Afghan students, studying in their schools and colleges.

Sources said that principals of the local colleges and heads of schools were told to gather information about Afghan students and hand it over to the officials concerned without any delay.

Sources in educational institutions said that it was not clear as to why the decision was taken. “We don’t know as to what is the purpose of the government. It has been confirmed that the order has been issued by provincial officers,” said principal of a college.

However, sources said that it would become clear after gathering the information that how many Afghan students were getting education in public sector educational institutions and what would be the number of Pakistani students after repatriation of Afghans to their motherland.

School heads not clear about purpose of the move

Sources said that it was the first time that information about Afghan students was being collected by the education department. However, the schools and colleges never denied admission to Afghan students and they also got free textbooks like Pakistani students, they added.

Sources said that a number of Afghan students were studying in public sector schools but it was difficult to differentiate them from locals. “The Afghans have the same look, language, clothes and culture so it is difficult to differentiate them from local students,” said a teacher.

According to sources, principals of some colleges said that the information was required to United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) because it wanted to plan their education in their homeland. However, when contacted, the officials didn’t confirm it. The local police officials, when contacted, said that it was planned by the law enforcement agencies to have complete record of Afghans nationals whether they were students or grown up people.

They said that they never harassed Afghans and just passed the required information to them. Those Afghans, who failed to produce valid documents, had been told to move to their homeland voluntarily, they added.

The Afghan refugees living in the district said that they heaved a sigh of relief after Pakistan extended their stay till March 31 next year. “Now we can easily plan our return journey,” they added. Most of the Afghans refugees live in Gandaf and Gohati camps. Some of them have also been living in various other areas and farming fields for the last several years.

Published in Dawn September 13th, 2016