As the government-set deadline expires, around 4,000 Afghan nationals have voluntarily returned from Karachi, according to Sindh’s Home Minister, Haris Nawaz, speaking to the media on Tuesday. He revealed that batches of 300 to 400 illegal Afghan immigrants will be sent to the Chaman border crossing within the next two to three days.

October 31 was designated as the last day for immigrants illegally staying in Pakistan to leave voluntarily. The home minister emphasized that an operation against illegal immigrants will be launched starting tomorrow, stating that they will not be allowed to stay in the country for more days.

While acknowledging Pakistan’s history of hosting Afghan brethren, Nawaz stressed that those staying legally in the country would not encounter any issues. However, individuals without proper travel papers will be repatriated to their home country.

Highlighting the Afghan population in Sindh, Nawaz mentioned that there are approximately 170,000 Afghan citizens in the province, with around 100,000 in Karachi alone. The home minister also indicated that illegally staying Indian and Bangladeshi citizens would be sent back to their respective countries via trains.

He warned of a crackdown against those who refuse to leave the country voluntarily, and individuals harboring illegal immigrants will face legal consequences. To accommodate the repatriated individuals, the government has established refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, equipped with provisions for food, medical treatment, and other basic necessities.