Can refugees provide the impetus for urban regeneration? Economic integration, social networks and well-being in Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract

Since 1979, Peshawar has hosted tens of thousands of mostly Pashtun refugees, hampering the city’s ability to provide public services to most residents. Since July 2016, refugee returns have increased dramatically, likely stemming from factors including doubling of cash grants received upon arrival in Afghanistan, campaigns by the Afghan and Pakistani Governments urging refugees to return, and an end to documentfree border crossings at Torkham. The authors found that the latter is a deal breaker for many refugees, most of whom want to maintain tribal or family ties in Afghanistan. Based on an original household survey of 1,000 Afghan households residing in the Peshawar area, the paper explores structures of refugees’ social networks, linking them to economic well-being and exploring ways in which the presence of refugees may create opportunities for urban regeneration. The research reveals that the vast majority of refugees are making a living, but mostly in low-value-added occupations. While most earn more than the minimum wage, access to health care and educational attainment are low. Participation in community organisations and regular support from government or humanitarian sources is also low. The authors recommend supporting the creation of institutionalised collective action platforms that could strengthen existing social ties, providing leverage for resourceconstrained humanitarian actors. The national governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), must rearticulate a clear, unified policy position toward refugees so families have a more certain socio-economic future.