PESHAWAR – The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control has decided not to deport Afghan madrassa students immediately but instead regulate their stay under the Foreigners Registration Process (FRP). Only those students holding valid visas will be allowed to remain in Pakistan.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Federal Secretary of Interior, attended by provincial and federal officials. The meeting reiterated the federal cabinet’s directive that voluntary repatriation of Proof of Registration (PoR) card holders will commence from September 1, 2025.
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As part of the measures, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will block all SIMs registered under Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) immediately, while SIMs belonging to PoR card holders will remain valid until August 31, 2025, after which they will also be deactivated.
The meeting also reviewed the mapping of PoR card holders, which is being carried out rapidly to identify undocumented Afghan nationals. Former Afghan refugee camps, including Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gardi Jungle in Chagai, will be re-identified for relocation.
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Furthermore, provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have been directed to establish additional transit areas to facilitate the “dignified and orderly return” of Afghan nationals. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will upgrade facilities at border terminals to handle the expected flow.
The Interior Ministry also instructed all law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and provincial governments to submit their latest action plans to ensure a smooth and monitored repatriation process. This development signals Islamabad’s determination to regulate undocumented Afghans while avoiding abrupt expulsions, balancing humanitarian considerations with national security and administrative concerns
