Lahore: Federal Government says Mianwali’s last Afghan refugee camp, as Punjab claims Repatriation Since April 1, 2025, there have been approximately 42,913 Afghan nationals.
The Punjab government has set up a holding centre under Pakistan’s Repatriation Plan (IFRP) and has begun identifying Afghan nationals who lack valid documents or have been overdue for one year in Pakistan.
Place Afghans in these holding centers until they are transported to the Tokham border across Afghanistan.
Ahmad Javed Qazi, home of Punjab, told dawn No Afghan refugee camps operate in the province after the closure of Kot Chandna camp in Mianwali. He said the Afghans who were intercepted by law enforcement agencies were taken to a regional holding center, and the Punjab government provided the board, accommodation and food through the deputy director. From there, they were brought to the government’s expenses to Tokham.
He asserted: “All Afghan residues in Pakistan must leave, except for holding a valid visa.”
More than 3.5 million Afghans live in Pakistan, of which about 700,000 arrive after the Taliban, according to the UN Refugee Agency. take over In 2021. About half otherwise there was no attention.
Pakistan has been hosted in a row of conflicts for decades, while the government believes that the number of refugees poses security risks and stressful public services. After the repatriation policy, many Afghans voluntarily left the country, while others were identified, taken to the center and later transported to the border.
Kashmir Affairs Ministry, Gilgit-Baltistan and the states and border areas said in a notice indicating the Mianwali camp that all land and immovable assets in the area will be handed over to the Punchab government or the area. By written handover.
Posted in Dawn on September 26, 2025
