Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed all provincial governments to expedite the return of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Pakistan, stressing that the process must be carried out with dignity and respect, particularly for women, children, the elderly, and minorities.
The directive came during a high-level meeting in Islamabad on the repatriation of Afghan refugees. The meeting was attended by Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, federal ministers, chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, a representative of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, and senior federal and provincial officials.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif said that while the repatriation of undocumented Afghan citizens is a national responsibility, it must be conducted in a manner consistent with humanitarian principles. He emphasized cooperation with international agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
UNHCR estimates that more than 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees currently live in Pakistan, while an additional 600,000 entered the country after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Government officials say the policy aims to regulate Pakistan’s refugee management system and ensure legal compliance. However, rights groups have voiced concern, warning that forced or hasty repatriations could endanger vulnerable refugees, particularly women and children.
