The Federal Interior Ministry has instructed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government to provide records of Afghan students enrolled in the province as part of an update to the national database of foreign nationals.
The ministry’s security cell issued an official letter to the provincial home secretary, directing that details of Afghan students be submitted by March 27.
This request comes as Pakistan approaches the final phase of its crackdown on undocumented foreigners, including Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders. The government has set a deadline of March 31 for all illegal Afghan residents to depart from the country.
Authorities report that over 876,000 Afghans have already left Pakistan since the start of the repatriation drive, with thousands more expected to follow in the coming days. The government has promised that deportations will be carried out in a humane manner.
To aid the process, officials have arranged food and medical assistance for those returning. However, strict legal actions will be taken against those who remain past the deadline.
Earlier, the K-P government had agreed to comply with the federal decision regarding the repatriation of Afghan refugees. However, it clarified that refugees in the province would not be forcibly expatriated but would instead be given the option to voluntarily return to Afghanistan. Necessary facilities will be provided to support this voluntary return.
The central government has set a final deadline of March 31, 2025, for all illegal Afghan refugees or those with proof-of-registration cards to leave Pakistan and return to Afghanistan.
