Registered Afghan refugees can open bank accounts in Pakistan

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday issued instructions that the registered Afghan refugees can open their bank accounts in Pakistan. In a tweet message, the Prime Minister said from now onwards, Afghan refugees can participate in the formal economy of the country. He said this should have been done a long time ago. Last year, the prime minister announced he will grant nationality to all Pakistan-born refugees of Afghan and Bangladeshi origins. However, after a backlash from politicians and other quarters concerned, he said that no decision had been made, adding that he had raised refugee citizenship “just to initiate a debate.” About 2.7 million Afghan refugees stay in Pakistan, who crossed the border after the Soviet invasion in 1979.