ISLAMABAD, 12 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - The Pakistani government and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have announced that they will undertake a census of all Afghans who are living in the country by the end of February. It will be the most comprehensive survey of its kind and provide vital information to allow Islamabad to formulate long term policy on Afghan refugees and economic migrants residing in the country. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 11 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - Lack of infrastructure and livelihood opportunities in the southern belt of Afghanistan, the region of origin of a large majority of Afghans living in Pakistan, has been impeding returns, according to an annual survey of voluntary repatriation by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 10 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - An outbreak of leishmaniasis, a skin disease caused by the bite of a sand fly, has been reported in parts of the southern Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 6 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - The Committee for Justice and Peace (CJP), a minority rights NGO, is holding consultations to amend the Succession Act of 1925 that governs how Christians in Pakistan inherit property, money and goods. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 5 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - Pakistani President General Musharraf on Tuesday gave his assent to a bill setting out enhanced punishment for honour crimes - usually carried out against women and girls who "offend the honour of the family". But women's rights activists are not convinced the law will have any impact on the widespread problem. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 3 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - Pakistan dispatched the first part of a taskforce of about 250 army personnel to parts of devastated Indonesia on Monday, in two C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Full report

ISLAMABAD, 31 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - A 12-member medical team form Pakistan's largest charity, the Edhi Foundation, left on Friday for Sri Lanka with more than five mt of life-saving and other emergency medicines, responding to an appeal from the Sri Lankan government for help in dealing with victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami tragedy that struck the region on 26 December, killing at least 140,000 people. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 30 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - Pakistan must expand the multi-sectoral response at all levels to avert the threat of an HIV/AIDS epidemic becoming established among the general population, according to a progress review mission. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 29 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - Following the series of tidal waves or tsunamis that devastated many Indian Ocean nations on Sunday, two ships from the Pakistani navy have extended their stay in the Maldives to participate in relief operations in disaster-hit areas. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 28 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US $57 million loan for a multi-sector rehabilitation and improvement project, aimed at improving the physical and social infrastructure in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Full report

PAKISTAN: Focus on poisoned water and disabilities

PAKISTAN: Interview with the head of UN's volunteer agency, Ad de Raad

PAKISTAN: UXOs continue to endanger life in isolated tribal belt

PAKISTAN: Focus on runaway children

PAKISTAN: Focus on exploitation of domestic workers