Latest news with #AhmadNazir
Arab News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Afghanistan faces new crisis as hundreds of thousands forced back from Iran
KABUL: Ahmad Nazir had nothing with him except his work clothes when he reached the Islam Qala border crossing and entered Afghanistan, forced, like hundreds of thousands of others, to suddenly leave Iran. Nazir, 24, has worked at a restaurant in Tehran for the past four years. He arrived at Islam Qala — part of the main route connecting Afghanistan's Herat and Iran's Mashhad — on July 6, which was the deadline that Iranian authorities set for undocumented Afghans to leave. 'Two days ago, the Iranian police took me from the restaurant and put me on a bus to Islam Qala. I came with nothing but my work clothes,' he told Arab News. A native of the central Parwan province — some 600 km from Herat — Nazir is now waiting for his family to help him return home. He is one of nearly 450,000 Afghans who returned to the country since June, according to estimates by the International Organization for Migration and local nongovernmental organizations helping the returnees. 'Approximately 30,000 Afghans are returning from Iran each day through the Islam Qala border crossing, and most are forcibly deported. They include both undocumented refugees and Afghans with legal documents,' said Abdul Fatah Jawad, director of the Ehsas Welfare and Social Services Organization, which is providing help in Herat province. 'Most families arriving at the Islam Qala border crossing have no tents, forcing many to improvise makeshift shelters to shield themselves and their children from the scorching sun. They wait in these harsh conditions for their turn to receive limited cash assistance before continuing on to their home provinces.' Many have nowhere to go as they moved to Iran decades ago with their whole families. Afghanistan's Taliban authorities, which have vowed to support all those returning, do not have the means and funding to do so. 'The people of Herat have shown tremendous support, offering food and transportation to returning families,' Jawad said. 'Ehsas is providing cooked meals and water to up to 3,000 people each day, but this support is far from sufficient given the scale of new arrivals. A significantly broader and more urgent response is needed from the government, international organizations, and those with the means to contribute. This is a humanitarian crisis of much greater magnitude.' The exodus from Iran is worsening a crisis caused by a similar deportation drive that has been underway in Pakistan since last year. The two countries have hosted millions of Afghans fleeing war and poverty at home for the past 40 years. Official estimates suggest that over 4 million Afghan nationals were living in Pakistan, while in Iran, the figure is around 6 million, with 4 million believed to be undocumented. In 2025 alone, more than 900,000 Afghan refugees and migrants have been forced to leave both countries, pushing local systems to the brink of collapse and jeopardizing access to vital services for both returnees and the communities that host them. While many Afghans have fled the Israeli bombing of Iranian cities in mid-June, the directive for undocumented migrants to depart voluntarily has been in place since March. Iranian authorities ordered them to comply by July 6 or face deportation. Many of those returning through Islam Qala, the main border crossing, are completely unprepared to move. Some were born in Iran and have never lived in Afghanistan. Islamuddin Momini, a university lecturer from Herat who joined a convoy delivering aid to the returnees in Islam Qala, said the situation was 'extremely grim,' with many people arriving visibly traumatized. 'They are living in a state of psychological shock, compounded by severe shortages of food, water, and shelter,' Momini told Arab News. 'Upon returning to their home provinces, returnees will face a new set of challenges, including limited access to employment, education, and livelihood opportunities. Addressing these medium to long-term needs requires comprehensive support systems to facilitate their reintegration into society — an especially difficult task amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis and prevailing restrictions.'
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Iskandar Puteri sets sights on becoming model green city
ISKANDAR Puteri City Council (MBIP) is stepping up its commitment to sustainability, through a comprehensive low-carbon society framework that places community recycling and waste management at its core. Mayor Ahmad Nazir Mohd Nasir said the five-year-old Iskandar Puteri Low Carbon (IPRK) initiative, spearheaded by MBIP, had been actively conducting programmes to reduce landfill waste and promote household-level recycling. 'IPRK's early focus encouraged recycling practices in residential and office premises, notably through competitions that incentivised greener lifestyles. 'This grassroots approach laid the foundation for a series of innovative pocket initiatives that followed,' he told StarMetro. Ahmad Nazir said that among standout efforts was the drive-through recycling counter, which allowed residents to conveniently drop off recyclables. He said the programme had not only gained traction among Iskandar Puteri residents but also from surrounding areas including Kulai, Pasir Gudang, Pontian and even as far as Simpang Renggam. 'The strong response we have received demonstrates that communities are ready and willing to participate in sustainable waste practices when given the right support and infrastructure. 'Building on that momentum, MBIP and its IPRK strategic partners introduced a sustainable waste management pillar under the Iskandar Puteri Low-Carbon Community Grant.' Ahmad Nazir said the grant provided funding, expert guidance and cross-agency support to empower local groups to implement zero-waste and recycling initiatives. 'This initiative is about moving beyond awareness and empowering people to act. 'The grant allows communities to take ownership of their waste, reduce landfill contribution and explore innovative solutions.' He said to date, MBIP had established 11 recycling centres across Iskandar Puteri under the IPRK grant. He added that these included facilities at Masjid Taman Pulai Indah, Taman Impian Emas Community Recycling Centre, Sunway Boulevard and several schools such as SK Perling, SK Taman Bukit Indah, SK Sungai Melayu and SK Taman Mutiara Rini. 'Together, these centres have collected 62,601kg of recyclable materials, which is a significant step towards reducing the city's carbon footprint,' said Ahmad Nazir. He said in a move to diversify the types of waste addressed, MBIP also launched an initiative to collect used cooking oil from households and food businesses. The programme, he said, had gathered 11,752.8kg of used oil, preventing it from being improperly disposed of and contaminating water systems. Ahmad Nazir said MBIP was particularly proud of its Oil2Wang kiosk, a first of its kind in Johor, located at Taman Pulai Flora surau. The kiosk enables residents to exchange used cooking oil for rewards. 'This kind of practical, community-driven programme is the future of urban environmental management. 'When residents are included in the process, they become champions of change,' he said. Ahmad Nazir stressed that efforts to reduce solid waste at source were crucial in achieving Johor's sustainability targets. He said by integrating educational outreach, grant support, and recycling infrastructure, the IPRK model hoped to build a culture of sustainability that extended beyond city boundaries. Ahmad Nazir believes Iskandar Puteri can serve as a living lab for other local councils in Johor and across Malaysia. 'We want to demonstrate that smart, low-cost solutions implemented at community level can create a real impact. 'Recycling is not merely about waste collection but also about reshaping public perception on waste itself, which is from a problem to a resource.' Ahmad Nazir said MBIP was also working to integrate more schools into its recycling network, to foster eco-conscious behaviour from a young age and ensure the next generation continued the mission. 'As climate concerns intensify, MBIP plans to expand its partnerships with private companies, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions to further scale up recycling and waste minimisa-tion programmes. 'More community composting pilot projects are on the horizon, particularly in residential areas and community gardens where organic waste management can be implemented effectively.' He said MBIP had set its sights on becoming a model green city in southern Malaysia by leveraging data-driven initiatives to track recycling performance and improve community engagement. 'We believe local action is the most powerful driver of national progress. 'By investing in our people, infrastructure and long-term vision, Iskandar Puteri is on the right path to becoming a cleaner, greener and more resilient city,' Ahmad Nazir added. –
