Illegal Afghan immigrants living in Pakistan start leaving Karachi and other parts of Pakistan. The caretaker government of Pakistan has announced to leave illegal migrants voluntarily by Oct 31 after which the government will take strict actions against them.

Pakistan has decided to expel 1.1 million illegal immigrants including Afghan nationals from the country. Afghan refugees are bearing the brunt of the crackdown in Karachi.

Why Pakistan announces big crackdown on illegal Immigrants

A large number of Afghan refugees are living in areas of Karachi like Sohrab Goth, Machar Colony, Kochi Camp, Ittehad Town, and Highway Afghan Basti. After caretaker government’s deadline, these Afghan refugees are leaving Karachi to go back to Afghanistan.

The Express Tribune reports daily that eight buses take six hundred Afghan refugees from Karachi areas to drop them at the Chaman border in Baluchistan to leave Pakistan.

Afghanistan’s Embassy has expressed concerns over violent arrests and a crackdown on Afghan refugees by the Pakistan Government.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) have asked the Pakistan Government to review its decision to evict illegal Afghan immigrants. But Pakistan Government seems to not review its decision on illegal immigrants due to security concerns and economic burden.

Read Why United Nations and IOM appeal Pakistan to keep Afghan Nationals

In the last three days, about twenty-two buses departed eighteen hundred Afghan immigrants to Chaman Border.

Pakistan announces big crackdown on Illegal Immigrants

An apex committee meeting was held on Oct 3, 2023. It was presided over by Pakistan Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar. Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced the deadline of November 1 for Illegal Afghan Immigrants start leaving Karachi and other parts of Pakistan.

The interior ministry has formed a special task force for an operation that will start on Nov 1, 2023. Federal and provincial law enforcement agencies will start taking strict actions against illegal immigrants. The authorities will seize the assets and businesses owned by Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The illegal immigrants involved in illegal trading and suspicious activities will face severe penalties.