On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Pakistan LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Pakistan country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Pakistan COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Pakistan.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Pakistan is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Pakistan is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees/1967 Protocol and has also not enacted any national legislation for the protection of refugees nor established procedures to determine the refugee status of persons who are seeking international protection within its territory. Such persons are therefore treated in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
In the absence of a national refugee legal framework, UNHCR conducts refugee status determination under its mandate (Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees adopted by the General Assembly Resolution 428 (V) of 14 December 1950) and on behalf of the Government of Pakistan in accordance with the 1993 Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Pakistan and UNHCR. Pakistan generally accepts UNHCR decisions to grant refugee status and allows asylum-seekers (who are still undergoing the procedure) as well as recognized refugees to remain in Pakistan pending identification of a durable solution.
UNHCR has recently created Welcome to the Pakistan ‘HELP’ website page of UNHCR in light of recent events taking place in Afghanistan. This page was created to provide useful information to individuals seeking support in Pakistan and will be continually updated. On this page, you will also find information relating to:
Legal aid organisations
Address: 2/136-A, Aman Park Baghbanpura Lahore, Pakistan
Email: waheed2010@hotmail.com
Lahore Bar Association/Child Rights Committee is an association of Pro-Bono lawyers providing legal aid for children’s rights. This includes the provision of legal juridical assistance to (unaccompanied) refugee children.
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Facebook
Tel: +92 91 58 50 323 or +92 57 02 759 or +92 57 01 681
Fax: +92 91 58 54 872
Contact Person: Qurat ul-Ain Sadozai, Country Director
Email: pk.info@nrc.no
NRC provides humanitarian assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees, they have offices in Charsada, Nowshehra, Kohat, DI Khan, Bajaur, and Mohmmand. Their programme activities are concentrated on five core activities, one being Information, Counseling and Legal Assistance. NRC provides legal assistance, usually through individual casework, but it may also entail class action. NRC pursues legal action through all relevant local, national and international legal systems and mechanisms, including customary law, conflict resolution and mediation mechanisms and any other prevalent systems of law – in addition to statutory law and the courts. NRC may provide training in legal issues to target groups and key local actors – to establish a platform of understanding of rights and applicable law, and subsequent legal approaches to key issues. This country office assists refugees and IDPs.
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Address: 12, 1-D, 2nd Floor, Rahmat Plaza, Nazim-ud-Din Road, Blue Area, Islamabad, Pakistan
P.O. Box 3040, G.P.O Islamabad, Post Code: 44000
Tel: +92 51 28 28 791
Fax: +92 51 28 72 092
Email: info@pihro.org
PIHRO provides legal assistance to refugees as well as shelter, health care and education. A member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN). It promotes a unique holistic approach by combining human rights advocacy with physical development initiatives. By adopting this approach, PIHRO has achieved tremendous results to date, particularly in the most backward areas of the country.
Address: Hyderabad Office Address:
Flat No.07, First Floor, Haider Chowk Gari Khata Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
Tel: +92 22 27 80 737
Karachi Office Address:
B-12, Jason Coastal Apartment, Clifton Block III, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Tel: +92 21 56 63 514
Email: rightsnowpak@gmail.com
Rights Now Pakistan provides a wide range of assistance to refugees in the cities of Karachi, Hyderabad, Tharparkar and other areas of Southern Pakistan. They provide legal aid in Karachi and Hyderabad. Rights Now Pakistan supports refugees through providing training in refugee rights (in Karachi), in finding translators and provides links to NGOs and certain services, particularly education, employment opportunities and health services. The organisation conducts research on refugee rights, provides resources for training and keeps a protective presence at places where refugees reside, monitoring their security situations and reporting to the UN and other International Agencies.
Rights Now Pakistan is a member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN).
Website
Address: House # 154, Street 11, Phase 1 Shahbaz Town, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
Tel: (+92) 081-2826745 & 081-2826888
Email: seher@seher.org.pk
SEHER is working for protection of all marginalised persons rights – specifically of children, women, Refuge, juvenile, prisoners and minorities in Balochistan. Multiple projects are implemented such as legal aid and legal empowerment for the most vulnerable segment of society.
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Islamabad Office:
House # 2, Postal Colony, CMT Road, Golra Morr, Islamabad, Pakistan
Peshawar Office: House No. 62, Mosque Street, Khyber Colony # 2, Tehkal Payan, Jamrood Road, Peshawar, Pakistan
Email: banori@sharp-pakistan.org
SHARP is a registered non-governmental organisation working for promotion and protection of vulnerable groups as a member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN). SHARP is an implementing partner of UNHCR in Pakistan since 1999 and provides legal aid to the refugees and asylum seekers in three out of four provinces. SHARP has established 7 advice and legal aid centers in 3 provincial capitals and 4 refugee populated areas where refugees are provided awareness through advocacy, legal camps and legal assistance through early interventions and court representations. SHARP has several projects specifically refugee related such as, a helpline service for refugees seeking assistance particularly at the time of police harassment and illegal detention. SHARP is also assisting UNHCR in registration of RSD cases. UNHCR has selected SHARP as a partner in the international emergency programme.
SHARP has a team of 42 professional lawyers, 14 psychosocial counselors, doctors, HR officials and other supporting staff working for the protection of Refugees. It has been selected chair of the newly established refugee rights network in Pakistan.
Website
Tel: +92 304 111 1437
Email: pakisprt@unhcr.org
Important notice: Please note that due to a registration systems upgrade, registration activities at SHARP, SEHER and UNHCR in Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar will be on hold starting 01 to 16 April. This includes renewal of document activities. Normal activities will resume on 20 April. UNHCR, SHARP and SEHER will contact applicants to change appointment dates as necessary.
If you experience a protection incident in the meantime or change your contact number, please report to UNHCR Islamabad via the helpline number +923041111437, to UNHCR Peshawar via +92 300 858 5600 , and to UNHCR Quetta via the helpline number+ 92 3311110237. For urgent issues related to arrest and detention, please call our legal aid partner (ALAC) helpline at +92 334 111 2004.
Please note UNHCR and its partners maintain a zero-tolerance policy against fraud and corruption, sexual exploitation and abuse, and any form of solicitation for money or favours in exchange for assistance and services. Please report any complaints to UNHCR via the helpline number or email ID pakisprt@unhcr.org.
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Address: Main Payind Khan Road, Killi Payind Khan, Chock Shakarzai Saidain, Near Molvi Qasam Madrasa Quetta, Baluchistan Pakistan
Tel: +92 812872652, Fax: +92 812832031
Email: yadlri@yahoo.com or attaulhaq2000@yahoo.com
The Youth Association for Development (YAD) is a youth led, registered non-governmental organization based in Quetta, Pakistan. It is a member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and is an implementing partner of the Amna (Refugees Trauma Initiative-RTI). YAD employs a human rights-based approach it is programming to promote, advocate and protect vulnerable groups. It does this through provision of the following services:
- Provision of mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS) to Afghan Refugees at its established Refugees Trauma Support Hub in Quetta
- Provision of legal aid, and operate a legal aid helpline center in Quetta
- Access to justice and pro Bono support to the Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in Baluchistan.
- Referral services
YAD Pakistan is comprised of a team of 4 professional lawyers, 4 psychosocial counsellors and a program team of active volunteers in different districts of Baluchistan, all together working toward a participatory development approach to bring about long-term change and sustainable development to the society.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Address: Plot no, 31 Shabbir Sharif Road, G-11 Markaz G 11 Markaz G-11, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
Tel: +92 51 8842001
In Pakistan, the ICRC supports the public, the authorities and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society in the event of armed violence or natural disaster.
Website
Email: rhrintl@gmail.com
For refugees: refugees@chcworld.org
For general information: info@chcworld.org
Contact Person: Muhammad Ejaz, Co-founder
Community Help Community CHC is a non-governmental organisation working for the uplift of the society through the provision of humanitarian assistance in Pakistan. Their projects are focused on the following: Protection of women and children and their rights, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, humanitarian affairs, food security and livelihoods, education, disaster risk reduction.
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Address: B#E-14, French Villas, Gulistan-e-Sajjad, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
Tel: +92 22 36 68 323 or +92 30 65 28 99 73
Email: hra.pakistan1@gmail.com
Executive Director: Mr Imran Khan Laghari
HRA Pakistan is a non government, non profit and non discriminatory, awareness raising and capacity building institution registered under Societies Act 1860. HRA is working in Pakistan with the aim to support deprived and marginalized communities to uphold their status in the society. HRA is striving for human rights, rule of law, peace and nonviolent action in the society of Pakistan. HRA Pakistan is actively advocating for the rights of persons with concerns including the refugees in the country.
HRCP monitors, chronicles and advocates human rights as enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution and international instruments. It carries out research, manages projects, conducts fact-finding missions and runs rights-based campaigns across the country. HRCP ’s flagship annual report, State of Human Rights, is widely considered the most comprehensive document available on this subject. HRCP also operates a Complaints Cell that serves as a referral mechanism for survivors of human rights abuses. Please contact the Complaints Cell on +92 333 200 6800 or complaints@hrcp-web.org.
Website
Address: 32-D/1, Circular Road, University Town, Peshawar, Pakistan
Tel: +92 91 57 05 780
Email: unionaid@hotmail.com
The organiaation is engaged in welfare projects for Afghan Refugees in Pakistan ensuring their basic rights. In the health sector UAAR provides health services to encamped Afghan refugees. They are also running a primary and a high school for girls, a vocational centre, a project for assisting needy families and a scholarship programme.
Pakistan LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Pakistan.
Pakistan COI
Find Pakistan Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023