Peshawar University to set up refugee study centre

PESHAWAR: The University of Peshawar, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, plans to set up a centre for refugee and migration studies.

The Department of International Relations said on Sunday it was considering the plan, which was discussed with a four-member delegation of the UN agency to the department.

Oscar Mundia, head of the UNHCR sub-office in Peshawar, led the delegation that discussed prospects for establishing the centre for refugee and migration studies at the university.

Prof Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi, chairman of the department, Prof Taj Moharram, dean of the social sciences faculty, and other senior teachers attended the meeting, the statement added.

Given the large refugee presence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and new dynamics of the impact on local population, the centre would not only be helpful for the UNHCR in research-oriented decisions.

The future of Afghan refugee students studying in the University of Peshawar also came up for discussion at the meeting. Focal persons were appointed to deliberate on the proposal and work out modalities.