Pakistan ‘extends’ deadline for a week for Afghans to leave the country

The Pakistan government has pushed out the deadline to next week for hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees to return to their country due to Eid al-Fitr.

AFP reported that a government official said on condition of anonymity that “the deadline has been extended until the beginning of next week due to Eid holidays.”

In early March, Islamabad announced a March 31 deadline for Afghans holding certain documentation to leave the country.

Afghans holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) — issued by Pakistan authorities and held by 800,000 people, according to the United Nations — face deportation to Afghanistan after the deadline.

More than 1.3 million Afghans who hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, are also to be moved outside the capital Islamabad and neighbouring city Rawalpindi.

On Friday, Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqv chaired a high-level meeting to review the repatriation process of ACC holders.

He stated that continuous coordination is being maintained between the federal and provincial governments regarding the repatriation process, and the federal government will provide full support to the provinces.

Additionally, a committee has been formed based on the recommendations of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said.

Naqvi also stated that Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry will visit the provinces to resolve any issues arising during the repatriation process.

In addition, all arrangements for the repatriation of Afghan Citizen Card holders have been completed, Naqvi said, adding that a door-to-door awareness campaign is underway, and the mapping of Afghan Citizen Card holders has been finalized.
Holding centers, food provisions, and healthcare facilities have also been arranged for those returning, he said.