The federal government has ordered the closure of five Afghan refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of its broader policy to ensure regulated repatriation and management of Afghan nationals in Pakistan. The Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) on Thursday issued a formal notification directing that the camps be dismantled and the land handed back to the provincial government.
According to official details, the camps include three in Haripur, one in Chitral, and one in Upper Dir. The Haripur-based Panian camp, where over 100,000 Afghan refugees had been residing for more than four decades, was also included in the decision. Following the notification, the land has been placed under the control of the provincial administration and respective deputy commissioners.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has acknowledged that the largest concentration of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Officials underline that the closure of the camps is intended to strengthen law and order, streamline population management, and address long-standing socio-economic pressures on local communities, while ensuring that humanitarian standards remain part of the repatriation process.
At the provincial level, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has earlier voiced concerns over the forced repatriation of Afghan refugees, urging that the process be carried out with caution and sensitivity. Federal authorities, however, maintain that the decision reflects Pakistan’s sovereign right to manage its borders, safeguard its security, and regulate the presence of foreign nationals in line with national interests and international commitments.
