Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Friday reiterated that the government will not extend the April 30 deadline for the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry made it clear that no one without a valid visa would be allowed to stay in Pakistan beyond the deadline.
“We welcomed our Afghan brothers for over 40 years with open hearts, but no country allows individuals to reside without legal documentation,” he said.
He also warned of strict legal action against individuals who rent out property to undocumented foreigners. “All provinces have been instructed that anyone providing housing, shops, or any form of space to illegal residents will be held accountable under the law,” he added.
Chaudhry revealed that 84,869 Afghan nationals have returned to Afghanistan since April 1, emphasizing that the repatriation process is being conducted lawfully and in an organized manner.
He further noted that the Foreign Ministry is in continuous communication with the Afghan government, and a high-level Pakistani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Afghanistan soon.