Islamabad: Oct 12: The Punjab provincial government has launched the third phase of deporting undocumented Afghan nationals from Pakistan, identifying 123 more individuals for repatriation and transferring them to holding centres ahead of deportation, local media reported on Sunday.
According to Dawn, the Punjab government has deported around 42,913 Afghan nationals since April 1 under Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigner Repatriation Plan (IFRP). The drive targets those without valid documents or who have overstayed in the country for over a year.
Currently, 46 holding centres remain operational across Punjab—including five in Lahore—where undocumented Afghans are kept before being sent to the Torkham border for repatriation to Afghanistan. Punjab Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar said provincial police are on high alert to identify and deport illegal residents in compliance with international laws. He noted that police alone have deported over 21,800 Afghans and other foreigners so far.
The campaign follows the federal government’s move last month to denotify refugee camps in Mianwali (Punjab), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, effectively ending formal refugee settlements in these provinces.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed deep concern over Pakistan’s ongoing deportations, warning of “devastating humanitarian consequences.” UNHCR Representative in Pakistan Philippa Candler urged Islamabad to halt forced expulsions and ensure any returns occur voluntarily and with dignity.
“These expulsions could cause immense suffering for vulnerable families and undermine reintegration efforts in Afghanistan,” Candler said, urging Pakistan to respect human rights and humanitarian principles.
The UNHCR also highlighted the particular risks faced by Afghan women and girls, who would encounter severe restrictions on education, employment, and mobility under Taliban rule. It called on Pakistan to allow Afghans needing medical care, education, or in mixed marriages to remain in the country.
