Over 2.76 Million Illegal Afghan Residents Repatriated From Pakistan
LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Sep, 2026) A total of 2.76 million illegally residing Afghan nationals had been repatriated from Pakistan so far, including 142,820 from Punjab, as the Punjab Home Department's Foreign National Security Cell continued its province-wide repatriation drive on the directives of the Punjab chief minister.
According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, illegally residing Afghan nationals were being apprehended from residential areas and markets and shifted to holding centres where registration and other legal formalities were completed before their repatriation to Afghanistan. The spokesperson stated that 39 holding centres were currently operational across Punjab, with 213 Afghan nationals housed there at present.
These holding centres provided temporary accommodation, registration, and repatriation for illegally residing Afghans, who were subsequently handed over to Afghan authorities at the Torkham border.
Under the government of Pakistan's policy, Afghan nationals staying in the country without valid visas were considered to be residing illegally.
The spokesperson clarified that action was only taken against individuals residing illegally in Pakistan, adding that the Foreign National Security Cell of the Home Department was continuing province-wide monitoring and coordination.
Citizens had been advised to report illegal stay, identity fraud, or suspicious activities to Emergency Helpline 15, with the identity of informants kept confidential.