Refugees

Afghan refugees in Pakistan rejoice over new bank accounts

By Javed Khan

An Afghan restaurant in Peshawar Saddar can be seen July 6. Afghan refugees in Pakistan can now open bank accounts using their Proof of Registration as identification. [Javed Khan]

An Afghan restaurant in Peshawar Saddar can be seen July 6. Afghan refugees in Pakistan can now open bank accounts using their Proof of Registration as identification. [Javed Khan]

PESHAWAR -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's new policy of allowing Afghan refugees in Pakistan to open bank accounts is already paying dividends.

Khan on February 25 ordered banks in Pakistan to allow all registered Afghan refugees to open accounts.

"I have issued instructions today that Afghan refugees who are registered can open bank accounts, and from now onwards they can participate in the formal economy of the country," Khan tweeted at the time.

"This should have been done a long time ago," he added.

Afghan refugees in Pakistan will be able to save and remit money safely with bank accounts, rather than resorting to illegal money exchangers. [Pexels]

Afghan refugees in Pakistan will be able to save and remit money safely with bank accounts, rather than resorting to illegal money exchangers. [Pexels]

Banks across the country received instructions to accept Proof of Registration (PoR) cards issued by the Pakistani National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) as identity documents for refugees. Also in February, NADRA activated its online verification system for PoR cards.

Safety and convenience

"This is an excellent opportunity for all of us, as we did not feel secure keeping money at home or in offices," said Malik Aziz, a 37-year-old fruit dealer.

Now, refugees such as himself have the opportunity to have an account in Pakistani banks and keep their money safe, he said.

"I and many of my friends used to keep money at home, which was never safe," said Habib Ullah, an Afghan trader working in the small-scale scrap business. He added he plans to open a bank account soon.

"This will help us keep our money safe and make transactions easier," he said.

Having a bank account will make it easier for Afghan refugees to receive money from abroad and for Pakistani authorities to keep an eye on the transactions. The refugees previously had to transfer those sums via shady money exchangers, who have been involved in the past in illicit activities such as terror financing.

"It will be easy for Afghans working abroad to send money to their families, especially females, through their bank accounts now," said Ahmad Shah, a 50-year-old Afghan refugee living in Hayatabad.

Weaving the diaspora together

Thousands of Afghan families in Pakistan are being supported by their young members working in the United States, the United Kingdom, other countries in Europe and elsewhere, he said.

Transactions for Afghans who live in Afghanistan and receive money from their families in Pakistan will become easier as well, according to Shah.

Many of the transactions between Pakistan and Afghanistan were going through money exchangers in Chowk Yadgar, most of whom the Pakistani Federal Investigation Agency has declared illegal, he said. Several raids have targeted such dealers in recent months.

The move "will help thousands of families easily transfer and receive money through a safer channel and without going to illegal money exchangers", said Yousuf Ali, a graduate student in international relations at the University of Peshawar.

Pakistan last month extended the stay of Afghan refugees in the country until June 30, 2020, a move that the global community has welcomed, he added.

"Pakistan has provided great support to the refugees in the country for the last four decades," Ali said.

Do you like this article?

3 Comment

Comment Policy * Denotes required field 1500 / 1500

Pakistan always cheats Afghanistan with its lies.

Reply

Who will guarantee that Afghans' capital will suddenly not get frozen in Pakistani banks, and their capitals would get returned to them as the situation changes? The fact is that, now Pakistan is trying to control its money and to prevent further destruction of its economy. If Afghans deposit money in banks, Pakistan will control the interest rate that is being imposed on this country in the case of receiving loans from IMF. Their second priority is to avoid money inflation.

Reply

In fact, Pakistan has not helped Afghans, but rather by training the ex organizational [jihadi groups and Taliban terrorists it brought misfortune to Afghanistan, and destroyed Afghanistan badly. It is absolutely wrong to say that Pakistan has helped Afghans. In fact, Afghanistan was destroyed by Pakistan and Iran. Believe me that Russians have not destroyed Afghanistan as much as the Made in Pakistan terrorists and groups destroyed it. Look, in the recent years, America, Germany, India and other countries have been trying to build Afghanistan, the Western soldiers whose religion and sect are different from ours are trying to build Afghanistan, to rebuild the Afghan army, police, intelligence, commerce, economy and to stand on its own feet, but Pakistan and Iran are trying and want Afghanistan destroyed and needy to them. Afghan youth should support the international coalition if Iran is attached and they should help in destroying the dirty Iranian system, and also they should help against Pakistan whose nuclear weapons are a danger for the whole world.

Reply