LAHORE, Jul 31 (APP):Punjab Home Department on Friday said that 139,902 illegally residing Afghan nationals had been repatriated from the province as part of the government's ongoing drive against illegal foreign nationals. According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, the Foreign National Security Cell continued to coordinate and monitor the repatriation campaign across the province in line with the federal government's policy. The spokesperson said around 2.66 million …
Over 139,902 illegal Afghan nationals repatriated from Punjab
LAHORE, Jul 31 (APP):Punjab Home Department on Friday said that 139,902 illegally residing Afghan nationals had been repatriated from the province as part of the government’s ongoing drive against illegal foreign nationals.
According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, the Foreign National Security Cell continued to coordinate and monitor the repatriation campaign across the province in line with the federal government’s policy.
The spokesperson said around 2.66 million Afghan nationals had so far been repatriated from Pakistan, including 139,902 from Punjab.
He said illegally residing Afghan nationals were being apprehended and shifted to holding centers, where temporary accommodation, registration, and documentation formalities were completed before their repatriation through the Torkham border crossing.
Currently, 39 holding centers are operational across the province, where 284 Afghan nationals are being housed. They will be repatriated after the completion of the required procedures, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said that, under the government’s policy, the stay of Afghan nationals in Pakistan without a valid visa was illegal. He added that inspections had been carried out in residential areas and markets across the province as part of the ongoing crackdown.
He urged citizens to report the illegal stay of Afghan nationals, identity fraud or any suspicious activity by calling the Police Emergency Helpline 15, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept confidential.
The spokesperson clarified that the ongoing action was being taken only against illegally residing foreign nationals, while the Punjab Home Department’s Foreign National Security Cell continued to oversee and coordinate the repatriation process across the province.
