ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to prepare a relief package for the Afghan refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) facing hardship due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The directives came during a meeting of the federal cabinet following a request by Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Shehryar Afridi.
The prime minister gave the directives regarding allocation of funds for the IDPs and refugees from the Rs200 billion earmarked for poor farmers.
Following the meeting, the minister told reporters that around 2.8 million refugees were living in 52 refugee camps across the country, of which 80 per cent were daily wage earners.
Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2020
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Comments (32) Closed
citizen
Apr 01, 2020 09:25am
everyday a new plan, I am sure these are all just plans and no one will get anything...….delay tactics
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Haque
Apr 01, 2020 09:28am
Good decision.
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kamal chowkidar
Apr 01, 2020 09:32am
Every day is a order day for him.
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BALA
Apr 01, 2020 09:49am
From where he will get Rs200 billion ?
He don't have money for Pakistani people but he has money for Afghani people.
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AKB
Apr 01, 2020 09:52am
Good decision.
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Yasmeen Jehan
Apr 01, 2020 09:58am
@citizen, Negative thinking. Follow the news. Things are changing by the hours across the world.
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Chris Dann
Apr 01, 2020 10:30am
@citizen, actually appreciable. With such limited sources,this action warrants appreciation.
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Chris Dann
Apr 01, 2020 10:32am
@BALA, at the moment Pakistanis are getting relief packages and in Afghan refugees issue,UNHCR would also support who will audit also. Pl refrain criticism until you research prooerly.
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Chris Dann
Apr 01, 2020 10:33am
@Yasmeen Jehan, it is panic all over Europe here ,trust me.
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Arbaz Khan
Apr 01, 2020 10:45am
The best strategist in the world! No problem if you failed to control Corona. Control the reported NUMBER, show only 25% to public.
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Gautam Chabra
Apr 01, 2020 11:13am
Do first for your citizens, then think of others.
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sher khan DDS,MD
Apr 01, 2020 11:15am
@citizen, Pittiful
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sher khan DDS,MD
Apr 01, 2020 11:16am
@kamal chowkidar, And what you done lately???
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Shahid Kamal
Apr 01, 2020 11:31am
Pakistan is currently facing the biggest challenge for it's survival. First and foremost responsibility, duty and obligation of the Govt.under these uncertainties is to plan on war footing to protect our own people especially those under the poverty line. It's a fact that we lack capability, capacity, resources to pull through these testing times. Ignoring the expected return of our labourers from Middle East and talking about the refugees in Pakistan shows their level of preparedness for our own people. To recognize, reciprocate and value our sacrifices for the Afghan refugees, their own Govt.in stead never missed any opportunity by joining India to oppose, damage and lobby against the interests of Pakistan. The actual home of Afghan refugees is Afghanistan and it's the duty of Afghanistan to look after their own people and not Pakistan.
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Taimur
Apr 01, 2020 11:47am
Then what will happen to poor farmers? For how long Pakistanis will keep on giving sacrifices? And why are we placing refugees and IDPs in same category. IDPs are Pakistanis
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Ajaz
Apr 01, 2020 12:02pm
What will happen to poor farmers?
Ik cementing KP vote bank.
Knows he will lose next election.
This man has 10 x the ego of trump.
Everyone is crying for lockdown but he knows better.
I think he doesn't have the intellect to comprehend the problem.
He doesn't realise that if virus spreads the economic costs will much greater.
He keeps delaying while virus is spreading.
It's not like the flue Mr khan.
Only reason not so many people dieing in Europe is because of ventilators.
How many does Pakistan have?
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Sajjad
Apr 01, 2020 12:13pm
Let India take care of Afghans. I fail to understand his love for Afghanistan.
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Qamar
Apr 01, 2020 12:25pm
@Sajjad, Why not Iran, a neighbor?
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Milan
Apr 01, 2020 12:26pm
@Sajjad, How about you, volunteering for Afghan refugees?
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Rabia
Apr 01, 2020 01:02pm
Good decision!
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Kasim
Apr 01, 2020 01:18pm
If you select a confused ill informed person to lead, then this is what you get. Earlier governments atleast took decisions, good or bad, here only excuses and blame game.
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Vikas
Apr 01, 2020 01:25pm
He loves to "order", doesn't he. Like an Emperor sitting on a throne not knowing where the money or resourced to execute His orders will come from. Someone of course will think of an "out of the box" solution and execute His orders. What an amazing 'Ruler'.
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Vikas
Apr 01, 2020 01:26pm
@kamal chowkidar, Not really. It's alternate days. One day is "take notice of" day. And the next day is "order day".
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Marquis de Sade
Apr 01, 2020 01:41pm
Today is 1st April, right?
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Apr 01, 2020 02:04pm
Great, penetrating, philanthropic, correct and effective move to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons in order to alleviate their hardships and sufferings by the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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flying star
Apr 01, 2020 03:20pm
@Gautam Chabra, 100% agree
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flying star
Apr 01, 2020 03:22pm
@Shahid Kamal, 100% agree excellent comments.
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flying star
Apr 01, 2020 03:24pm
@Sajjad, Right.
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LOCKDOWN
Apr 01, 2020 03:59pm
so far no blame on previous Govts?
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Vishesh
Apr 01, 2020 04:03pm
He is super confused because of dire state of economy, if he ask for lock-down then economy will die, if he choose to not to lock-down then people will die.......
he has to make tough call, but thats what leaders are for....
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Parvez
Apr 01, 2020 08:34pm
Relief package for an ungrateful lot .... but as they too are human beings its acceptable.
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Li-N-Ja
Apr 02, 2020 05:06pm
Sir please distribute ration to minorities also. Your officials are saying your order of relief is meant for majority people and its does not include minorities.
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