• UNHCR’s voices care about Pakistan’s intention to “force” refugees
• The KP meeting discusses the implementation of the repatriation plan
Peshawar: The Federal Government has informed the provinces that formal repatriation and deportation of more than 1.3 million Afghan refugees who have registration cards (by) will begin on September 1.
The decision follows the announcement of the Ministry of Interior on July 31 that the card holders, the last category of Afghans who legally reside in Pakistan without visas, became illegal residents after their cards expired on June 30.
A letter from the Ministry of Interior was sent, dated August 4, to the main secretaries and police chiefs of the four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltist and Azad Jammu and Kashmira, which details the implementation of the repatriation plan of ongoing illegal foreigners (IFRP).
“It has been decided that the voluntary return of the holders of the Porería cards will begin immediately, while the formal repatriation and deportation process will enter into force as of September 1, 2025,” said the letter.
In addition, the Ministry said that the repatriation of illegal foreign citizens, including holders of the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC), would continue according to the previous decision under the IFFIF.
In the letter, the Ministry of Affairs of Cashmiro, Gilgit-Baltistan and Safrron, received instructions to provide databases from card holders for the provincial, division and district committees. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will facilitate the deregistration of Afghans returning in the traffic areas and border terminals, with the Federal Research Agency (FIA) that supports the repatriation in the designated border crossings.
The Ministry also ordered the provincial governments and the relevant agencies that map all card holders and devise action plans for repatriation. He requested traffic areas designated for deportees, together with transport and financial agreements.
IFRP implementation
Meanwhile, a meeting of the Provincial Management Committee (PSC) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took place on Monday to discuss the implementation of the IFRP. According to the minutes, the Committee directed the district administrations, the police and the special branch to form teams and keep Jirgas with Afghan elders to encourage voluntary repatriation. In addition, the attached commissioners of the provinces had the task of reallocating card holders.
The PSC decided that Nadra and the Provincial Authority of Disaster Management (PDMA) should restore traffic points Peshawar and Landi Kotal to the total operational capacity.
The Forum also recommended that the Afghan refugees commissioner unwaray the refugee fields, since they no longer have any purpose. He asked the commissioner to provide details about the registration categories and the number of people still reside in the camps.
Regarding the local traffic points for deportation, the PSC clarified that the relevant attached commissioner, with the council of the military authorities and the Nadra guide, should decide the fate of the local deportees. The meeting emphasized that these points would only be used for local deportees, with Torkham remaining the main exit point.
Official sources said Sunrise That the Pakistani authorities had informed their Afghan counterparts in early March this year that the cards for not extended beyond June 30, 2025.
According to UNHCR, more than 1.3 million Afghas lived in Pakistan as of June 30, 2025. Of this, more than half (717,945) were in KP, while 326,584 resided in Baluchistan, 195,188 in Punjab, 75,510 in Sindh and 43,154 in Islamabad.
In 2004-05, the Pakistani government, with the attendance of UNHCR, issued cards for Afghan refugees, and in 2016, Afghan citizenship cards (ACC) were introduced through an amendment to the Law of Foreigners of 1946.
UNHCR VOICES Concern
Meanwhile, UNHCR, in a statement, expressed concern about Pakistan’s intention to forcefully return Afghan refugees holding cards by. “In recent days, UNHCR has received arrest reports and arrest from Afghans throughout the country, including card holders,” he said.
The UN Agency said he recognized and appreciated Pakistan’s generosity when organizing refugees for more than 40 years amid his own challenges. However, since those who have pores letters have been recognized as refugees for decades, their forced return is contrary to the long -standing humanitarian approach of Pakistan for this group and would constitute a violation of the principle of non -reference.
Posted in Dawn, August 6, 2025
