The federal government on Friday directed authorities not to take any action against Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, while considering extending the validity of the document, according to an official notification.
“The matter regarding the extension in validity of Proof of Registration (PoR) is under consideration by the federal government,” the notification said, instructing all departments and agencies to refrain from “harassment or adverse action” against registered Afghan refugees until a final decision is made.
Pakistan is home to over 2.8 million Afghan refugees who fled decades of conflict in Afghanistan. Of these, around 1.3 million possess PoR cards while some 813,000 hold Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), issued in 2017 to grant temporary legal status.
Earlier this year, the interior ministry ordered all “illegal foreigners” and ACC holders to leave the country by March 31, warning of deportations starting from April 1. Authorities have since repatriated approximately 1.3 million Afghans under the ongoing deportation drive launched in November 2023.
However, the new government directive offers temporary reprieve to PoR cardholders, amid growing international concern over the treatment of Afghan refugees.
“Of the nearly three million Afghan nationals in Pakistan, only a fraction have valid documentation,” Parliamentary Secretary Mukhtar Ahmad Malik told the parliamentary session. He said the government was reviewing documentation policies as part of a broader reassessment of refugee management.
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over four decades, but recent security and economic pressures have prompted tighter border and immigration controls.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ