The second phase of repatriating Afghan refugees from Pakistan has commenced, with the government deciding to send back Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders.
The Interior Ministry has set a deadline of March 31 for their return, according to official documents.
Currently, around 800,000 Afghan refugees are residing in Pakistan under ACC status. The Interior Ministry has expedited measures to implement the decisions taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister.
For Afghan refugees seeking to migrate to a third country, the government has extended their residence permits until June 30. However, those who fail to obtain a visa from another country by September will also be considered illegal residents.
The Interior Ministry has also decided that Afghan citizens awaiting visas after March 31 will not be allowed to stay in Islamabad. Instead, they will be relocated to other cities before being deported to Afghanistan.
To ensure effective implementation, intelligence agencies will submit a compliance report to the Prime Minister’s Office every 15 days.
Pakistan had earlier launched a large-scale repatriation campaign, citing security concerns and an influx of undocumented migrants.
