Warning on Afghan property rentals

The repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals has continued unabated, with approximately 7,135 individuals crossing into Afghanistan on Sunday.

Official sources told The Express Tribune, a total of 167,774 Afghans have returned to their homeland via Torkham in the past month, starting from October 1. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) setup has been established at the holding center in Landi Kotal to collect data on the repatriating individuals. Thousands of refugees are arriving daily at this center.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar District Administration has taken a firm stance against property dealers involved in arranging houses and shops for rent to undocumented Afghan refugees in the city.

Mosques have made announcements instructing illegal immigrants to ensure their return to Afghanistan. Property dealers have been warned that no accommodations will be rented to undocumented Afghans, and strict actions will be taken against both the dealers and property owners who fail to comply.

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In contrast, the Commissionerate Afghan Refugees reported that on Saturday, an additional 9,000 Afghans returned to their country. The holding center in Landi Kotal has effectively collected data on departing refugees, and the repatriation process has gained momentum.

The caretaker Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet convened a special meeting to evaluate the ongoing evacuation of foreigners residing illegally in the province. During the meeting, they requested the federal government to allocate Rs1 billion in funding to cover the costs of repatriation.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan, was attended by Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Additional Chief Secretary for Interior Abid Majeed, as well as relevant administrative secretaries and officials. To enhance management, an emergency was declared in Nowshera, Peshawar, and Khyber districts.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2023.