ISLAMABAD; A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Friday that a total of 1,477,592 Afghan nationals have been repatriated as of October 16, and the government will grant no further extension.
The ongoing repatriation drive, launched on September 1, targets over 1.3 million Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards—the last group of refugees legally residing in the country without valid visas.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the meeting was told that only Afghans possessing valid Pakistani visas will be allowed to stay, while additional exit points are being set up on the Afghan side to speed up the repatriation process.
Officials also stressed that harboring illegal Afghan nationals or allowing them to stay in guesthouses constitutes a criminal offense, with strict identification measures underway. The public will play a role in the repatriation process, and no one will be allowed to violate government policy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz directed authorities to ensure the dignified treatment of elderly persons, women, children, and minorities during the process.
He recalled that senior Pakistani officials had repeatedly visited Kabul to urge the Afghan interim government to prevent the use of its soil for terrorism against Pakistan.
Highlighting recent cross-border attacks, Shehbaz termed Afghan support for terrorist infiltration a “serious concern”. He praised the armed forces for their strong response, stating that under Field Marshal Asim Munir’s leadership, Pakistan’s forces repelled the attacks.
The premier concluded by urging provinces to fully cooperate, while the forum agreed to strictly implement all recommendations.
Pakistan hosts more than 3.5 million Afghans, including 700,000 who arrived after the 2021 Taliban takeover. The government maintains that the large refugee presence now poses security risks and strains public services.
