ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan June 29 gave Afghan refugees a six-month extension for legally staying in Pakistan, media reported.
Pakistan earlier set June 30 as the deadline for Afghan refugees to return home, but it has moved the deadline to December 31, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. About 1.5m Afghan refugees live in Pakistan.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi praised the Pakistani move and doubled the UN's aid package for Afghan refugees who agree to return home from US $200 (Rs. 20,000) to US $400 (Rs. 40,000).
Pakistani officials received orders from Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to work with the UN Refugee Agency and with Kabul to gradually relocate refugee camps to Afghanistan, according to a statement by Prime Minister House in Islamabad, Dawn reported.
