Pakistan prepares to deport illegal Afghan residents
The Pakistani government has given its approval for the establishment of multiple deportation centers to address the issue of hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals residing illegally in the country. Pakistan is preparing to apprehend and repatriate these individuals to Afghanistan, with the process scheduled to begin next month.
This development comes in the wake of the government's recent endorsement of the 'Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,' which has set a November 1st deadline. This deadline applies to all 'illegal/unregistered foreigners' and those who have overstayed their visas, mandating their return to their respective home countries. Failure to comply with this deadline will result in deportation, as per Pakistan's immigration laws.
Pakistan's Interior Minister, Sarfaraz, made the announcement regarding the deadline in early October, estimating that approximately 1.7 million Afghans fall within the category of individuals facing deportation.
Official sources have disclosed that special deportation centers will be established in four key regions: Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Afghans detained in Punjab and Sindh will be transferred to dedicated centers in the Rawalpindi and Karachi areas, respectively.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will house two deportation centers in Nowshehra and Chamkani. Meanwhile, Baluchistan will host three centers: one in the capital city of Quetta, and the remaining two in the Pishin and Qilla Abdullah districts. Significantly, these last two areas are located along Pakistan's 2,600-kilometer border with Afghanistan, and they are home to a significant number of refugee families.
This move signifies Pakistan's concerted effort to address the issue of illegal Afghan residents and ensure compliance with its immigration regulations. It also underscores the need to manage and streamline the flow of migrants and refugees in a lawful and organized manner.
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