Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said the repatriation of illegal foreign nationals, including Afghan Citizen Card holders, will continue with no extension to the deadline that expired last month.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad this afternoon, he said Afghan Citizen Card holders were asked to voluntarily leave the country and return to their homeland by 31st March, 2025. He emphasized that this deadline has expired, and there will be no further extension in this regard.

The Minister of State further said the one-document regime will be fully implemented, requiring valid visas and passports to enter Pakistan. He said Afghan citizens who are being repatriated can visit, work, and stay in Pakistan under the one-document regime policy, provided they have valid visas and passports.

Talal Chaudhry recalled that the policy of repatriating illegal foreign nationals has been in effect since 30th October, 2023. He said the repatriation will be completed in phases. In the first phase, illegal foreign nationals without legal documents were sent back to their countries. In the second phase, Afghan Citizen Card holders are being repatriated to their homeland, while in the third phase, Afghan citizens holding Proof of Registration cards will be deported.

The Minister of State highlighted that Pakistan made this decision after hosting millions of Afghan brethren for decades. He explained that the decision was taken in light of current ground realities. He said it has been observed that Afghan citizens are involved in narcotics trade and terrorism-related activities in Pakistan. He added that the revenue generated through narcotics is used to fund criminal and terrorist activities.

Discussing internal arrangements to ensure the dignity of Afghan Citizen Card holders, Talal Chaudhry said that all provinces, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, are fully on board with this initiative. He said that 38 transit points have been established in Punjab, three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two in Sindh, three in Azad Kashmir, and one each in Balochistan, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said Afghan Citizen Card holders are kept at these facilities before their onward journey to Afghanistan. He assured that Afghan Citizen Card holders are being provided with shelter, food, medical care, and transport facilities, while their honor and dignity are being upheld during the repatriation process.

Detailing the figure of registered Afghan nationals, the Minister of State told the newsmen that there are eight lakh 15 thousand 247 Afghans registered as Citizen Card holders while 14 lakh 69 thousand 522 have are registered under the Proof of Registration program.