Pakistan orders closure of Afghan refugee camp in Sawabi

KABUL (Pajhwok): Pakistani authorities have closed all shops in the Afghan refugee camp Gohati in Sawabi district, notifying Afghan nationals that the camp has officially been terminated.

According to Dawn newspaper, the directive to shut down the camp in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was issued on Tuesday.

The source estimated that around 20,000 Afghans currently reside in the camp.

A Pakistani official was quoted as saying, “Afghans can no longer live in Pakistan. Pakistan-Afghan relations are at their lowest ebb.”

In response to the decision, Muhammad Gul, president of Afghan traders, along with other residents, appealed to district administration officials to allow them to stay until Eid.

He explained that they have borrowed money from various people and businessmen and assured that they would close their businesses and return to their homeland by the third day of Eidul Fitr.

 hz/sa