QUETTA- Registered Afghan refugees living in Pakistan will get visa after 2012 under a policy while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in collaboration with the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan has been making efforts in this regard.According to a press release issued by the UNHCR Balochistan here on Sunday, this was said in a workshop ‘Refugee Protection and International Law’ jointly organised by UNHCR and Judicial Academy Balochistan here.A large number of judges from subordinate judiciary and law experts attended the workshop which was addressed by dignitaries including UNHCR Balochistan head Jose Belleza, honourable judge of the Balochitan High Court Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Commissioner Afghan Refugees Balochistan Abdul Sabboor Kakar, the Deputy Director Arbab Talib, Senior Protection Officer UNHCR Tayyaba Hassan Sharif, the Associate Protection Officer Arbab Tahir, and senior lawyer Kalimullah Qureshi. District and Session Judges from Quetta and other districts and UNHCR Balochistan spokesperson Ms Javeria Tareen were also present on this occasion. The workshop was told that Afghan refugees could live in Pakistan till 31st December, 2012 and after that the registered refugees would be issued visa under different categories so that they could live in Pakistan legally. “UNHCR Balochistan has been making its best to provide facilities to Afghan refugees including health, education, water and sanitation and vocational training,” the participants were informed. The workshop focused to aware judicial officials and law experts about rights given to Afghan refugees under the national and international law.Mr Justice Jamal Mandokhel said that our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) had taught us 14 centuries ago that refugees have equal rights like other people. Appreciating the role of the UNHCR, he said that this workshop would help judges in disposing off the cases pertaining to Afghan refugees.Commissioner Afghan Refugees Balochistan Abdul Sabboor Kakar said that due to lack of awareness and law about the Afghan refugees, the government administration and some other stakeholders would have to face some difficulties in dealing with matters related to the refugees. “Under Afghan Management and Repatriation Strategy, sub-committees have been constituted to compile recommendations,” adding the future plan would be devised and steps be taken in the light of these recommendations.Earlier, UNHCR Balochistan chief Jose Belleza mentioned there were over 350,000 Afghan refugees in Balochistan, adding that UNHCR has been providing all necessary facilities including health, education, sanitation, vocational training and others to them. He said that his organisation in collaboration with the government had provided health facilities at the government and other hospitals for the Afghan refugees. He noted that UNHCR has been giving technical training to Afghan refugees so that they after returning back to their homeland could earn their livelihood and contribute in their national economy. He further noted that his institution has been extending its all-out cooperation for repatriation of Afghan refugees. He said that steps were also being taken to resolve problems of hosts of Afghan refugees. Later, certificates were distributed among the participants of the workshop.