Population figures
Total country population
245,209,816
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
1,586,287
Asylum-seekers:
165,902
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
1,400,000
Others of concern to UNHCR
134
Country context
Pakistan, located in South Asia, hosts one of the largest refugee populations globally, with the majority being Afghan refugees. Most refugees reside in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan, with a significant portion living in urban and peri-urban areas. The remaining refugees reside in 54 rural refugee settlements, predominantly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Afghan refugee population in Pakistan is primarily composed of Pashtuns, with other ethnic groups such as Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazaras represented in smaller numbers. Among the refugees, there are over Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders, a group that has been the subject of national debates regarding their legal status and the future of their stay in Pakistan. Additionally, a significant number of refugees, including Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, remain in Pakistan, facing uncertainty due to shifting policies and the lack of a national asylum framework.
...Pakistan has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention, and its asylum system operates without a dedicated legal framework, which has led to challenges in managing the protection and integration of refugees. The implementation of the Illegal Foreigner Repatriation Plan (IFRP) in 2023 has further complicated the situation, as many refugees, including PoR cardholders, faced the risk of deportation.
Efforts to integrate refugees into national systems have made some progress, particularly in education, where refugee schools have transitioned to the Pakistani curriculum, but barriers remain, especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children.
Climate change poses an additional strain on Pakistan, which is highly susceptible to extreme weather events, including floods. This has exacerbated the vulnerabilities of both host communities and refugees. UNHCR, alongside its partners, has worked on climate-related initiatives, particularly in settlement management and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods.
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