LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has intensified its province-wide crackdown on illegally residing Afghan nationals, with more than 143,474 individuals repatriated from the province under the federal government’s ongoing national repatriation campaign.
According to the Home Department, a total of 2,807,250 illegally residing Afghan nationals have so far been repatriated from Pakistan.
A senior home department official said more than 400,000 search operations had been conducted in residential areas and markets across Punjab to identify illegally residing foreign nationals. During these operations, cases were registered against 803 individuals for renting out properties to the Afghan nationals residing in the country illegally.
Currently, 39 holding centres are operational across Punjab, accommodating 153 Afghan nationals. The centres provide temporary accommodation, registration facilities and arrangements for completing the necessary legal and administrative formalities before repatriation. After completion of the required procedures, the individuals are handed over to Afghan authorities at the Torkham border for repatriation to Afghanistan.
The spokesperson said Afghan nationals without valid visas were not legally permitted to stay in Pakistan under the government’s repatriation policy. He clarified that the ongoing action was directed exclusively against individuals residing illegally in the country. He said the figures reflected the Punjab government’s administrative measures and coordinated efforts to implement the national repatriation policy.
The public has been urged to cooperate with authorities and report cases of illegal residence, identity fraud or suspicious activities through Emergency Helpline 15. The spokesperson assured that the identities of informants would remain strictly confidential.
The Foreign National Security Wing of the Punjab Home Department is continuing province-wide monitoring and coordination to ensure effective implementation of the repatriation process.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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