Kurds in Pakistan

Demographics

As many as 4,000–5,000 Kurds, originating from Iraqi Kurdistan, migrated to Pakistan in the early 1990s when the Gulf War broke out in Iraq. A large number of them were based in Islamabad. As of 2013, up to 240 Iraqi Kurds were still living in the country. The majority of them were secondary migrants and asylum seekers, and were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) operating in Pakistan. Among them is a younger generation which is born in Pakistan. Over the years, these transient migrants have been able to obtain immigration and have resettled in other countries in Europe and North America, with the help of the UNHCR.

As Pakistan is not a signatory of the 1951 refugee convention, most Kurdish migrants are not able to acquire Pakistani citizenship. Due to their legal status, many tend to face social challenges relating to economic constraints, finding employment, healthcare, resettlement and other services. Members of the Kurdish community have raised their concerns with the UNHCR and other authorities, calling for the addressing of such issues.