The authorities have intensified a nationwide campaign to repatriate undocumented Afghan nationals, issuing eviction notices to the owners of more than 20,000 houses and apartments accused of accommodating people living in the country illegally.  The district officials have given property owners one week to remove undocumented Afghan tenants, adding that legal action would be taken against those who fail to comply within the deadline. 

According to a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Home Department, the police and security forces had expanded operations across Peshawar and other districts in recent days. The Officials said more than 600 Afghan nationals had been detained and deported from Peshawar over the past five days, while 2,163 others were repatriated after being detained in different districts.  The government figures showed that 23,336 Afghan nationals, including women and children, returned to Afghanistan between July, 11 to 16 . 

The authorities said the pace of returns had increased sharply, adding daily  repatriations, which previously averaged between 400 and 600 people, had risen to between 3,400 and 4,100 individuals.  The security forces said that the operations would continue as part of the government’s effort to ensure the departure of all undocumented foreign nationals from the country. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)