Peshawar: The repatriation process for Afghan refugees holding Afghan Citizen Cards from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues, according to an official statement.
As part of the government’s initiative to facilitate the dignified return of Afghan Citizen Card holders and undocumented migrants, holding camps have been established in Landi Kotal. One such camp is also set up near the Hamza Baba shrine in Khyber.
According to the latest figures released by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 40 more Afghan Citizen Card holders were repatriated via the Torkham border on Thursday.
The official statement confirmed that a total of 193 Afghan Citizen Card holders have been sent back so far. Additionally, the total number of undocumented migrants repatriated through the Torkham border has reached 470,722.
The breakdown of repatriation figures shows that 8,953 individuals were sent back from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,561 from Islamabad, 1,309 from Punjab, 38 from Azad Kashmir, and 44 from Sindh. In total, 477,434 individuals have been repatriated from Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary for Home Affairs, Muhammad Abid Majeed, along with Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Asfandyar Khattak and Deputy Commissioner Khyber, Captain (Retd.) Bilal Shahid Rao, visited the holding camp in Landi Kotal to oversee the arrangements for the dignified return of undocumented foreigners.
The statement further mentioned that senior officials from PDMA, FIA, NADRA, and other relevant departments also reviewed the arrangements in the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Relief).
Additional Chief Secretary for Home Affairs inspected the arrangements made at the Landi Kotal camp, including the deployment of health department personnel, emergency services (Rescue 1122), and the procedures set for repatriating returning families.
Authorities emphasized that Afghan Citizen Card holders and undocumented migrants from across the country will depart for Afghanistan via the Torkham border after receiving basic facilities at the holding camp.
To ensure a smooth process, district administration officials, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, NADRA, FIA, law enforcement agencies, and other departments will be stationed at the camp.
It is important to note that the voluntary return of Afghan Citizen Card holders and undocumented migrants via the Torkham border was allowed until March 31, 2025.
From April 1 onwards, all Afghan Citizen Card holders and undocumented migrants will be registered at the holding camp before being repatriated through the Torkham border. Authorities have completed all necessary arrangements for this process.
