ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior of Pakistan has announced that the voluntary return of Afghan refugees holding “POR” cards has begun and that forced expulsions will start after September 1. The decision was made during a high-level meeting in light of security concerns and financial pressures. Provincial governments and relevant agencies have been tasked with compiling a list of “POR” cardholders. According to the decision, the validity of temporary residence cards has expired, putting approximately one million migrants at risk of expulsion. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed concern over Pakistan’s actions and called for the return of refugees to be safe, voluntary, and conducted with human dignity. The agency emphasized that the forced return of individuals who have been recognized as refugees for decades constitutes a violation of human rights and the principle of non-refoulement. The expulsion process will be carried out under the Illegal Foreigners Return Plan (IFRP), and expulsions of Afghan migrants from Pakistan are ongoing.
