Govt advises Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave by March 31
Police officers, along with workers from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), check the identity cards of Afghan citizens during a door-to-door search and verification drive for undocumented Afghan nationals, in an Afghan Camp on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, November 21, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/ File
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The government announced on Friday that it will repatriate Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders as part of its ongoing Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Programme (IFRP), which began on November 1, 2023.
In a statement, authorities advised all illegal foreign nationals, including ACC holders, to leave Pakistan voluntarily by March 31. Deportation procedures will commence from April 1 for those who fail to comply.
The government stated that the repatriation process will be conducted in a humane manner, ensuring the dignified return of all affected individuals.
"Sufficient time has been granted for a voluntary return," the statement read, adding, "Arrangements for food and healthcare have also been made for returning foreign nationals."
Pakistan has long been a host to Afghan refugees and continues to uphold its international responsibilities. However, officials reiterated that those wishing to remain in the country must meet legal requirements and abide by Pakistan's constitution.
Under the IFRP, all undocumented foreigners, including Afghans, are being repatriated. Afghan nationals sponsored by European or other foreign countries will not be deported for now, but if their resettlement plans are not finalised soon, they too could face deportation, according to sources from the Ministry of Interior.
As part of the programme, 781 Afghan nationals have already been repatriated from Islamabad via the Torkham border.
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