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Pakistani Teachers Protest Termination by UNHCR, Demand Gratuity and Employment Benefits
Shahzad Rasheed
PESHAWAR: A group of 291 Pakistani male and female teachers who have been providing education to Afghan refugee children in refugee camps across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for nearly 40 years has appealed to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and the federal government to intervene and ensure justice following their alleged termination by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) without gratuity or employment benefits.
Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, teachers’ representatives Tufail Ahmed and Farhana Durrani said they had served under formal agreements with UNHCR, educating Afghan children for decades. However, they alleged that they were informed of their dismissal through late-night telephone calls last month without prior notice, compensation or clarification.
Tufail Ahmed said the teachers had dedicated their lives to securing a better future for Afghan children, but UNHCR had left 291 families facing financial uncertainty. He added that repeated applications seeking outstanding benefits had received no response.
Farhana Durrani alleged that teachers had been promised support and benefits after Afghan refugees departed Pakistan. She further claimed that despite international funding being received in dollars, teachers had been paid comparatively small salaries in Pakistani currency over the years.
She said the affected teachers belonged to Peshawar, Nowshera, Swabi, Haripur, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan and other areas.
The teachers have been staging a protest outside the UNHCR office in Peshawar for three days, demanding dialogue and payment of their rightful dues. They also alleged that police had intimidated protesters.
Appealing to the provincial governor and federal authorities, Durrani said many families were struggling to meet basic expenses and urged the government to ensure payment of gratuity and all outstanding benefits.
The teachers vowed to continue their peaceful protest until their demands were addressed and justice was delivered.
National
Pakistani Youth Ahmad Assal Represents Pakistan at UN Global Biodiversity Conference (COP17)
International Islamic University Islamabad student participates as Youth Delegate in Yerevan, Armenia
ISLAMABAD (City Reporter) Ahmad Assal, a student of International Islamic University Islamabad hailing from District Buner and Vice President of the Global Front for Biodiversity, represented Pakistani youth as a Youth Delegate at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The global conference was held from 19 to 30 October 2026 in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
Held under the theme Taking Action for Nature, the conference brought together government representatives, experts, researchers, civil society and young leaders from around the world.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Ahmad Assal said, Biodiversity and environmental protection are a shared challenge for the entire world today. Pakistan is among the countries most severely affected by climate change, which gives this issue exceptional importance for us. Sustainable solutions are not possible without involving young people in environmental policymaking.
He further said, Pakistan is rich in natural resources and biodiversity, home to countless rare species from its northern mountain ranges to its coastal areas.
Deforestation, pollution and climate change have become serious threats to these natural treasures. At this conference, my effort was to convey the perspective of Pakistani youth effectively to global policymakers.
The government, educational institutions, civil society and youth must work together to take practical steps for the protection of biodiversity, he said. Protecting the forests and natural environment of the country’s mountainous regions, including Buner, is tied to the future of our coming generations. Representing Pakistan at the global level is an honour for me, and I will use this experience to raise awareness among young people and promote environmental protection in the country.
