ISLAMABAD, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, has called for a bolstering of efforts towards longer-term solutions for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, the UNHCR said in a statement on Tuesday.
He called for an urgent reset of the aid model towards solutions and responsibility sharing, including fostering new partnerships and developing innovative approaches to addressing the protracted displacement situation, the statement said.
"We need to seize this opportunity to accelerate solutions and have a bigger, broader vision for the Afghan people in Pakistan," the official said.
The High Commissioner offered to work towards a dialogue later this year, which will bring together key stakeholders including government representatives, development actors, and the private sector to develop a package of solutions that benefits both the Afghan population living in Pakistan and the host country itself.
Grandi also committed to redoubling efforts aimed at creating conditions conducive to return to Afghanistan including from the perspective of material conditions, access to services, and job opportunities, so as to pave the way for sustainable voluntary returns in the future, the statement added.
During the visit, Grandi met Afghan refugees in urban settings as well as in a refugee village, where they briefed him about their concerns and expressed their desire to contribute to their communities in Pakistan and, eventually, in Afghanistan.
According to the UNHCR, Pakistan hosts some three million Afghans with some living in the country for generations. ■