The federal government has formally notified all provinces that the repatriation and deportation process for over 1.3 million Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards will begin on September 1, 2025. According to a report, this decision follows the Ministry of Interior’s notification issued on July 31, which declared that all PoR cardholders previously the last group of Afghans legally residing in Pakistan without visas—would be considered illegal residents after their registration expired on June 30.
In a letter dispatched on August 4 to the Chief Secretaries and Inspectors General of all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Interior Ministry outlined the operational details of the existing Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP).
The letter states that while voluntary repatriation of PoR cardholders is to begin immediately, formal deportations will commence from September 1. The ministry also clarified that the repatriation of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders—another category of undocumented Afghans—will continue under the existing IFRP framework.
The Ministry has instructed the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and SAFRON to share comprehensive data of PoR cardholders with provincial, divisional, and district-level committees. NADRA has been tasked with facilitating de-registration processes at transit and border checkpoints during repatriation, while FIA will assist in managing operations at designated border crossings.
Provincial governments and relevant authorities have been directed to map the PoR cardholder population and develop actionable repatriation plans. These include identifying local transit centers, arranging transport, and ensuring financial resources for the process.
Implementation of IFRP in KP
In line with federal instructions, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Steering Committee convened on Monday to assess IFRP implementation. According to meeting proceedings, district administrations, police, and the Special Branch have been instructed to form joint teams and hold jirgas with Afghan community elders to encourage voluntary repatriation. Deputy Commissioners were directed to re-map PoR cardholders in their respective districts.
The committee resolved that NADRA and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) will fully activate transit points at Peshawar and Landi Kotal. It was also recommended that the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees be directed to declare all refugee camps non-functional, as they no longer serve any practical purpose. The Commissionerate was asked to submit detailed data on camp populations and registration categories.
For local deportation, the committee emphasized that decisions regarding temporary repatriation centers would be made by the concerned Deputy Commissioner, in consultation with military officials and under NADRA’s guidance. These centers will only be used for localized deportations, while the Torkham border crossing will serve as the main exit point.
Deadline Notification and UNHCR Statistics
According to official sources, Pakistani authorities had already informed Afghan counterparts in March this year that the validity of PoR cards would not be extended beyond June 30, 2025.
As per UNHCR data, more than 1.3 million PoR cardholders were residing in Pakistan as of June 30. Of these, 717,945 were in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 326,584 in Balochistan, 195,188 in Punjab, 75,510 in Sindh, and 43,154 in Islamabad.
PoR cards were first issued by the Government of Pakistan with UNHCR assistance in 2004–05, and the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) scheme was launched in 2016 after amendments to the Foreigners Act, 1946. The Government has now given a final deadline of September 1, 2025, for all undocumented Afghans, including both PoR and ACC holders, to leave the country voluntarily. According to the official announcement, only 26 days remain, after which legal action will be taken against those staying without documentation.
Policy Objective and Humanitarian Assurances
The federal government has emphasized that the decision aims to provide a long-term solution to the issue of undocumented migrants and ensure a regulated system of legal residency within the country.
“PoR cardholders and ACC holders must leave Pakistan voluntarily by September 1. Legal action will follow against those who remain beyond the deadline,” the official statement reads.
Authorities have assured that the repatriation process will be conducted with full respect for human rights. Adequate arrangements have been made for food, healthcare, and other basic needs at transit points.
Call to Action
Relevant departments have appealed to all Afghan cardholders to make necessary arrangements for their return before the deadline to avoid any unpleasant circumstances.
