The process of mass deportations for Afghan refugees is set to begin its second phase after the expiry of the March 31 deadline for voluntary returns set by the government.
Although the deportations were initially expected to begin as soon as the deadline expired, the deadline was extended for two days due to Eid-ul-Fitr, according to officials quoted in media reports. The matter was also discussed in Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday.
In the second phase, refugees holding Afghan Citizen Cards will also be deported to their home country in addition to undocumented refugees. Meanwhile, refugees holding Proof of Registration will be shifted from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and then deported after June 30.
Camps have been established to hold the refugees and dozens of schools where the refugees were receiving education have also been shut down.
According to officials, 1.3 million ACC holders are still living in Pakistan. Over 700,000 Afghan refugees are still residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Although there was no formal announcement of the expiry of the deadline for return of refugees, Agence France-Presse said that the deadline had been extended to beginning of next week while Associated Press said that the deadline has been extended to April 10.
Since the government began the process of repatriation of Afghan refugees in 2023, a total of 473,397 people have been sent back to Afghanistan. UNHCR has urged the government to view the situation through a ‘humanitarian lens’. Afghan Minister for Refugees and Reparation Mawlavi Abdul Kabir has also called for humane treatment of refugees.
