On June 17, 2025, the International Center for Refugee and Migration Studies (ICRMS) at BUITEMS hosted its second public lecture of the year under the theme, “Refugee Realities in Balochistan: Navigating Marginality from Refugee Villages to Urban Settlements through a Biopolitical Lens.” The event was held at the Pink Hall, BUITEMS, and commenced at 10:15 AM. Mr. Muhammad Kazim, Liaison Officer at ICRMS, moderated the session, which formally opened with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by a brief introductory video highlighting ICRMS’s vision, ongoing programs, and its role in supporting refugee-related research and engagement in Balochistan.
The keynote speaker for the session was Mr. Arbab Talib Ul Maula, Commissioner for Afghan Refugees in Balochistan. Drawing upon years of experience and up-to-date data, Mr. Arbab Talib Ul Maula presented a detailed analysis of the Afghan refugee situation in the province, framing his discussion within a biopolitical context. He began by outlining the mandate of the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees ranging from facilitating access to health, education, and livelihoods, to supervising donor funded projects in both camps and urban refugee populations. He informed the audience that nearly 24% of Pakistan’s total Afghan refugee population resides in Balochistan, largely concentrated in districts such as Quetta, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Loralai, Chagai, and Chaman. He then mapped out the historical waves of migration from 1979 up to the recent post 2021 influx, detailing the legal categories (PoR, ACC) and the complexities around documentation. In his comparative analysis of rural and urban refugee life, Mr. Arbab Talib Ul Maula highlighted how remote refugee villages, such as Muhammad Khail, often lack basic infrastructure and remain cut off from essential services. Conversely, urban and peri-urban informal settlements though closer to amenities present different challenges such as overcrowding, insecure housing, lack of legal tenure, informal employment, and vulnerability to police harassment. He pointed out the educational disparities, noting that a significant percentage of Afghan refugee children remain out of school, particularly girls, due to limited schooling facilities, distance, and cultural constraints. Health issues, including widespread malnutrition, limited access to preventive care, and mental health concerns, were also discussed in depth. Mr. Arbab Talib Ul Maula also brought attention to the environmental and climate-related vulnerabilities that refugee communities face, including extreme weather, water scarcity, and recurring natural disasters such as floods. He stressed the urgency of adopting climate-sensitive and rights-based policy approaches.
As part of the forward-looking segment of his talk, Mr. Arbab Talib Ul Maula introduced several ongoing initiatives including the Refugee Response Plan (2021–2025) and the Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) program, jointly implemented by the Government of Pakistan and UNHCR in collaboration with NGOs. He then presented a six-pronged policy roadmap for improving refugee welfare and inclusion. This included:
- Legal and documentation reforms
- Expanded access to vocational training and livelihoods
- Integration of refugee health services with local district plans
- Empowerment of community-based refugee structures
- Stronger international donor partnerships
- Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The lecture was attended by several notable guests and representatives from academia and humanitarian organizations, including:
- Arkadiy Leybovskiy, Senior Protection Officer, UNHCR
- Haider Zaman, Assistant Protection Officer, UNHCR
- Tahira Awan, Senior Protection Assistant, UNHCR
- Dr. Zahid Rauf, Director, ICRMS
- Aurangzaib Alamgir, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, BUITEMS
- Bashir Ahmed, Chairperson, Department of Sociology, BUITEMS
- Hidayatullah, Assistant Professor, BUITEMS
The session concluded with a highly engaging Question & Answer segment, during which participants from both refugee and host communities raised pressing questions concerning education access, documentation barriers, employment, and future resettlement possibilities. Mr. Arbab Talib Ul Maula and Mr. Arkadiy Leybovskiy responded to these questions with thoughtful and well-informed answers, acknowledging the ongoing challenges while reaffirming their commitment to inclusive solutions.
To mark the close of the event, a group photo was taken, symbolizing solidarity and mutual collaboration among stakeholders, policy advocates, and community members.
Reported by Muhammad Asif
Reporting Associate
