The government, in response to the expired voluntary departure deadline, has initiated action to tackle the issue of illegal residency in the country. Law enforcement personnel are now deployed at various holding camps across the nation to streamline the deportation process.
In Karachi, designated holding camps for illegal residents have witnessed a significant police presence. Concurrently, foreign migrants are being relocated to the old Haji camp for temporary accommodation. An extensive operation is concurrently underway to identify and deport individuals who remain in the country without authorization and have not registered for repatriation.
The highest concentration of illegal residents, estimated at 165,000 immigrants, is reported in District East, Sohrab Goth, and surrounding areas of Karachi.
In Chaman, a considerable number of Afghan nationals who were residing unlawfully in different parts of the country have assembled to register for repatriation. These individuals are now being housed in camps established for Afghan refugee families. The Chaman center has seen around 5,000 Afghan refugees complete the registration process. Reports from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reveal the identification of 51,044 foreigners residing unlawfully across various districts, comprising more than 24,000 adults and over 25,000 children.
Peshawar leads with the highest count of illegal residents, totaling 22,752, including 5,826 men, 5,800 women, and 11,000 children. Significant numbers are also reported in other districts, such as Nowshera (7,185), Khyber (5,173), and Mansehra (2,700), contributing to the overall count of 51,044.
The campaign to repatriate illegal foreign nationals has already commenced, resulting in the return of 5,265 families, totaling 140,085 individuals, between October 1 and October 31, according to sources from the Afghan Commissionerate. Authorities emphasize that the operation’s objective is to ensure nationwide compliance with the law and address the issue of illegal residency.