International Refugee Day is being celebrated worldwide, including in Pakistan with, an aim to support people who have been forced to leave their country of origin due to conflict and oppression and help them rebuild their lives.
According to the UNHCR, around 300,000 registered refugees are residing in Balochistan.
These refugees are spread across 10 different camps throughout the province.
Among them is Najibullah, an Afghan refugee and musician living in Quetta who spent 35 years of his life in Pakistan and is now deeply concerned about the ‘welfare’ of Afghan refugees in his home country Afghanistan.
As a committed musician, Najibullah believes he can't return to Afghanistan under the current Taliban government due to their strict policies against music and artistic expression.
Najibullah said: "Living in Pakistan has been my reality for most of my life. Going back to Afghanistan is not an option for me right now because of my commitment to music. The Taliban's stance on music makes it unsafe for me to return."
UNHCR officials emphasize their mission to protect refugees and provide them with basic necessities.
UNHCR External Relations Humira Karim said: "Our goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of refugees. We strive to provide them with essential services and support to help them rebuild their lives."
Apart from the registered refugees under UNHCR, there are also unregistered Afghan refugees who entered Pakistan through secret routes along the Pak-Afghan border.
Many of these refugees are also residing in different areas of Balochistan, including Quetta.
The local administration is actively working to manage these unregistered refugees and facilitate their safe return across the border.
