The International Center for Refugee and Migration Studies (ICRMS), with the support of UNHCR, convened its first provincial Task Force Meeting on May 2, 2025, at the video conference room of BUITEMS. The Task Force was established in 2023 as a result of key recommendations from the 2022 policy dialogues aimed at addressing the barriers Afghan refugee students face in accessing higher education in Balochistan. These barriers include documentation challenges, rigid eligibility criteria, varied educational standards, and financial and social constraints. The inaugural meeting aimed to develop collaborative strategies to tackle these persistent issues and improve access to higher education for refugee students.

The event brought together representatives from public universities, including BUITEMS, University of Balochistan (UoB), and Alhamd University, as well as officials from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), UNHCR, UNDP, Inspire Pakistan, Balochistan Education Foundation BEF and other humanitarian organizations. Refugee students from BUITEMS and UoB actively participated, voicing concerns over their academic future and long-term stability. Dr. Zahid Rauf, Director of ICRMS, opened the session, which was moderated by Mr. Kazim, Liaison Officer at ICRMS. Ms. Nafisa Nasar, Program and Research Associate at ICRMS, presented an overview of the Task Force’s progress and previous achievements. Representatives from the universities shared updates on reserved seat allocations and efforts to revise application forms to be more inclusive. Critical discussions also focused on the potential forced repatriation of students and the urgent need for a safeguarding policy to protect those in the midst of their education.

The members of the Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing coordination among universities, government bodies, and humanitarian organizations to support the higher education journey of Afghan refugee students. Participants provided valuable feedback and contributed to shaping the agenda for future meetings. The meeting concluded with the following key recommendations:

Recommendations:

• Introduce a Zero Semester to help refugee students bridge academic and language gaps before beginning degree programs.
• Revise and update application forms to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for refugee students.
• Develop and advocate for a safeguarding policy that allows refugee students to legally remain in Pakistan until they complete their education.
• Ensure the issuance of diplomas, certificates, or associate degrees in the event of abrupt disruptions due to political or legal uncertainties.
• Proactively address enrollment challenges in 2025, with targeted strategies for overcoming them.
• Regularly share progress on reserve seat allocations across university departments.

Reported by Nafisa Nasar
Program & Research Associate