Canada stops shelter payments for Afghan migrants in Pakistan

The Canadian government has stopped providing financial support for Afghan migrants currently waiting in Pakistan to be resettled in Canada.

Canada had promised immigration visas to Afghans who had worked with Canadian forces in Afghanistan. Many of these Afghans moved to Pakistan following the return of the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan and are awaiting transfer to Canada.

Reports indicate that the Canadian immigration and settlement office provided temporary shelter funds for these Afghans.

According to CBC News, the Canadian government has now halted these payments. Officials told CBC that this financial support was a temporary measure and an exceptional step to provide temporary housing while the migrants completed their documentation.

Currently, thousands of Afghan citizens are awaiting evacuation in Iran and particularly in Pakistan. Most of them are in an uncertain situation in these countries.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, stated a month ago that around 25,000 Afghans who have been approved for resettlement in the United States are still in Pakistan, three years after the Taliban took power.

Additionally, she noted that 9,000 Afghans are awaiting transfer to Australia, 6,000 to Canada, 3,000 to Germany, and over 1,000 to the United Kingdom, but none have been moved to these countries yet.

The cessation of financial support by Canada adds to the growing concern and uncertainty faced by Afghan migrants in Pakistan and other countries. The international community’s response and continued support are crucial in addressing the needs of these individuals awaiting resettlement.

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