Fate of properties owned by Afghans remains unclear

Officials of police and revenue department have confirmed that a majority of Afghans own properties

PESHAWAR: The fate of properties owned by Afghan nationals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa remain unclear in the wake of repatriation.

Thousands of Afghan nationals in Pakistan possess property worth millions of rupees in Peshawar and other parts of K-P.

This has been corroborated through detailed surveys conducted by the provincial and federal governments.

According to these surveys, 1,000 Afghan nationals in Peshawar own properties worth millions of rupees. At least 22 families in Peshawar own 100 houses which have been rented out.

The relevant authorities are predicting conflicts and crises in the wake of repatriation of Afghan nationals. Almost all of the Afghan nationals are not only worried about the fate of their properties but a large number of them are in a bid to remain in Pakistan through one or other pretexts.



Officials of police and revenue department have confirmed that a majority of Afghans, either in possession of fake computerised national identity cards (CNIC) or who have acquired domicile certificates, own properties. Most of them have inherited properties with authenticated legal documents in this respect. However, National Database Registration Authority has blocked all CNICs of Afghan nationals.

The data added around 45,000 Afghans, residing in K-P are associated with transport business as they earn a livelihood by running buses, trucks, trailers and other private vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2016.