Punjab cabinet okays deportation plan for illegally residing Afghan nationals: Mir

The Caretaker Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir has said that the provincial cabinet has okayed a plan for the deportation of Afghan nationals who are residing illegally in the province, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.

The minister said under this plan, Afghan nationals found to be residing in Punjab without proper documentation will face arrest and subsequent repatriation to Afghanistan, commencing from the start of next month.

“The provincial government has taken measures to establish 36 deportation centers in various cities to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals affected by this decision,” he remarked.

Amir Mir clarified that the deportation process will exclusively target illegal residents, emphasizing that no specific class of individuals will be unfairly singled out.

He highlighted Pakistan's historical role in hosting refugees but reiterated the need to adhere to international law, which requires the deportation of those without proper documentation.

Mir assured that illegal residents, including women and children, will be temporarily housed in the deportation camps and provided with essential facilities.

He also issued a stern warning to citizens harboring or collaborating with illegal Afghan residents, cautioning that action would be taken against them after the specified date.

 Starting from November 1, Pakistan will strictly enforce its immigration regulations, with those possessing valid registration cards exempted from deportation. The information minister stressed that individuals willing to leave voluntarily before October 31 will be permitted to do so.

The initial phase of this operation will target those lacking any proper documentation.

 With approximately 164,000 illegal Afghan residents in Punjab, of which 99,000 have already been identified, the identification process continues on a daily basis, he added.

 

Reporter: Hassan Ali