ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has ordered the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) to provide electricity meters to Afghan refugees.
The court directed the Afghan refugees to apply to PESCO for electricity meters. Upon receipt of applications, PESCO should immediately install electricity meters.
Justice Qazi Amin remarked that every foreigner is entitled to all facilities. “Give electricity to Afghan refugees, their children are studying here,” he said. The petitioner’s counsel contended that electricity was being provided to Afghan refugees at the rate of 1971.
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The Supreme Court also ordered in 2017 to provide a separate electricity meter to every house in the refugee camp.
The court had ordered that the supply of electricity to the refugees should be ensured at the same rates as it is provided to other citizens.
The court in its written order had said that Pakistan has signed the UN conventions and these conventions have given special status to the refugees so the Afghan refugees also have equal status with the Pakistani resident consumers.
There are about 50 Afghan refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) currently has 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees. Pakistan is one of the countries providing education and health services to refugees.
