Repatriation of illegal Afghan residents continues at rapid pace

ISLAMABAD: The repatriation process has been moving quickly following the expiration of Pakistan’s deadline for unlawful residents and Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave the country.

On April 21 alone, over 3,956 illegal Afghan citizens were returned to their motherland. The total number of unlawful Afghan residents who have now fled Pakistan is 983,442.

Pakistani authorities are taking harsh legal action against unlawful foreign nationals and Afghan Citizen Cardholders who remain in the country after the deadline.

The Pakistani government has highlighted that it will ensure the dignified repatriation of illegal inhabitants, foreign nationals, and Afghan Citizen Card holders to their home countries.

According to officials, the government has taken efforts to ensure that foreign nationals and Afghan Citizen Card holders be treated fairly during the repatriation process.

Moreover, the government has now completely banned providing any shelter, jobs, property renting, and any other facility to the illegally residing citizens of Afghanistan, according to media reports.

Strict action would be taken against the individuals or organizations involved in assisting the illegal residents, said the Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, in a media briefing in Islamabad.

“There will be no extension of stay for Afghan immigrants without a valid passport and visa, and there is now zero tolerance for undocumented Afghan nationals,” he concluded.