Pakistan on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) warned Afghan residents and all illegal foreigners to voluntarily leave the nation and issued a stern warning in opposition to these obstructing the repatriation course of.
“Dignified treatment is being ensured for those returning to their home countries,” an announcement by the Interior Ministry mentioned, including that preparations have been made for his or her meals and healthcare wants, significantly for ladies, youngsters, and the aged.
Earlier this 12 months, the Interior Ministry requested all “illegal foreigners” and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave Pakistan earlier than March 31, warning that they’d in any other case be deported from April 1.
ACC is a doc launched in 2017 to grant short-term authorized standing to Afghan refugees. Authorities subsequently began deporting 1000’s of Afghan nationals from all elements of the nation.
A complete of 11,02,441 illegal foreigners have been despatched again because the launch of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Programme (IFRP) on April 1, 2025, in accordance to the Interior Ministry’s assertion. The assertion additionally warns people in opposition to “employing illegal foreigners, providing them rental accommodations or hotel stays, or engaging in business with them.”
“Such violators will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law,” the Ministry added.
Pakistan has hosted tens of millions of Afghan refugees who crossed the border throughout 40 years of battle of their homeland. Since November 2023, Pakistan has repatriated roughly 1.3 million Afghan refugees within the deportation drive launched.
Around 3 million Afghan refugees have been residing in Pakistan. Of these, 8,13,000 maintain ACC playing cards whereas 1.3 million possess Proof of Registration (PoR) playing cards, officers have mentioned earlier.
Published – June 11, 2025 04:51 pm IST
