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Stranded Pakistanis

Khaleda to press for repatriation time frame

By Fand Hossain
Bangladesh and Pakistan are likely to work out ■ timeframe for repatriation of stranded Pakistanis during Prime Mini •ter Begum Khaleda Zia's planned visit to Islamabad next month, diplomatic sources said on Sunday
Pakistan has agreed to start the repatriation within this year with nine districts In Punjab already selected for rehabilitation of the returnees the sources sold
In preparation for the repatriation Rablta Trust, working on behalf of Pakistan, has completed a preliminary headcount of the stranded people, better known as Biharia.
The survey that began In last March estimated the number of stranded Pakistanis at about 2 lakh 38 thousand The figure Is now being computerised
The sources at Pakistan High Commission, who spoke
on condition of anonymity, said the stranded people will be given Identity cards after the computer- finalised figure is available.
They said Bangladesh and Pakistan had no dispute on the repatriation of the Urdu speaking people who opted for Pakistani citizenship following the independence of Bangladesh.
Still, funds for transportation of the stranded Pakistanis remain the main roadblock in the process of taking the suffering people back to their land of choice.
A few years back Pakistan estimated that at least 500 million dollars will be needed to airlift the stranded people living In 70 flimsy camps dotted across Bangladesh.
The sources said Pakistan had so far contributed 25 crore rupees to the repatriation fund with another 5 crore rupees donated by Makkah-based Rablta Al Alam Al Islami.
Pakistan hopes that Rablta and some friendly Middle Eastern countries will come forward with the funds needed for ferrying the stranded people to Pakistan.
Bangladesh, which has spent more than 211 crore Taka for the welfare of the stranded Pakistanis in past 20 years, will press for a timeframe for the repatriation during Begum Zia's visit to Pakistan, informed sources said.
They said the repatriation would be a major topic in the talks between Begum Zia and her Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
Officials from both countries are working on the schedule for Begum Zia's visit, her first to Pakistan since she became the prime minister more than a year ago.
Begum Zia will discuss with Nawaz Sharif other bilateral problems. Including share of assets and liabilities of the erstwhile federal Pakistan The expansion of trade and economic cooperation will also be , discussed by the two leaders