Pakistan Sets Final Deadline for Undocumented Foreign Nationals

ISLAMABAD: Talal Chaudhry, the Minister of State for Interior, declared on Friday that April 30 is the ultimate deadline for all foreign citizens living in Pakistan without valid visas to leave. This statement reinforces the government’s firm stance on repatriating undocumented immigrants, particularly those from Afghanistan.

“Pakistan has displayed extraordinary generosity for many years, but now it is essential to rigorously implement our immigration laws,” the minister stated during a press briefing in Islamabad.

Chaudhry’s remarks come a day before Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is slated to lead a prominent delegation for discussions in Kabul.

Islamabad had previously cautioned Afghan citizens lacking legal residency documents, including Afghan Citizen Card holders, to return to their homeland or face deportation by March 31, a deadline that was subsequently extended to April 30.

The repatriation initiative is a component of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, which was initiated in late 2023.

Pakistan has accommodated millions of Afghans for approximately five decades. While hundreds of thousands have returned to their country in recent years, over 2.1 million remain in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and other regions.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, based in Islamabad, the previous year saw over 1,600 fatalities in Pakistan, nearly half of whom were security personnel, making it the deadliest year in almost ten years.

Pakistan asserts that the Taliban administration has not effectively eliminated militants taking refuge on Afghan territory, an accusation the Taliban government refutes.

The Taliban government has consistently advocated for the “dignified” return of Afghans to their nation, with Prime Minister Hassan Akhund urging host countries not to forcibly evict them.

“We welcomed our Afghan brothers for 40 years with open hearts. But no country in the world allows anyone to live without a visa, and Pakistan cannot be an exception,” Talal said while speaking to journalists .

Chaudhry reported that since April 1, 84,869 Afghan citizens have been repatriated as part of the ongoing national strategy to return individuals residing in Pakistan unlawfully.

He clarified that the repatriation procedure is being carried out legally, systematically, and humanely, and that Pakistani authorities are collaborating closely with their Afghan counterparts to ease the transition.

A significant aspect of the government’s enforcement approach is focused on those who provide housing, employment, or services to undocumented foreign nationals.

Chaudhry disclosed that stringent measures will be enforced against Pakistani citizens who lease shops, residences, or hotel accommodations to illegal immigrants or employ them.

“We have communicated clear instructions to all provinces. If anyone gives a shop, house, or any kind of space to an illegal foreigner, they will be held accountable under the law,” he said.

He further stated that only foreign citizens possessing valid legal documentation are entitled to rent property, establish businesses, or seek employment in Pakistan. All transactions, whether involving movable or immovable property, must be conducted with legally documented individuals.

“Pakistani citizens are only permitted to work with or rent to those who have proper legal status in the country,” he added.

The minister affirmed that Pakistan is adopting a well-rounded strategy that includes diplomatic engagement with the Afghan government.

Chaudhry also voiced concerns regarding credible intelligence suggesting that some of the one million weapons abandoned by US forces in Afghanistan have fallen into the possession of terrorist organisations.

“These developments confirm our security concerns. The presence of such weapons in the wrong hands poses a serious threat not only to Pakistan but to the entire region,” he cautioned.

The minister concluded by restating that Pakistan’s policy is motivated not by hostility, but by a dedication to the rule of law, public safety, and the national interest.