'Afghan Camp to be leveled today'

Officials say 200 houses demolished on Thursday, over 400 in two days

KARACHI:

The demolition of vacated houses at the Northern Bypass Afghan Refugee Camp continued smoothly on Thursday, following the repatriation of Afghan refugees from the area. Under the supervision of the Malir Development Authority's Anti-Encroachment Department and with the presence of heavy police contingents, more than 200 empty houses were demolished during the day.

Officials said the operation is proceeding without resistance, and structures identified for demolition will be cleared by Friday. They added that viral videos on social media - showing encroachers marking and occupying empty homes in the settlement - prompted swift action from authorities. In the past two days alone, over 400 illegal structures have been razed with the help of heavy machinery.

Police officers at the site confirmed that the process of reclaiming state land is progressing in an orderly manner, and that the situation is now under control, with no likelihood of unrest.

Meanwhile, several Afghan families remain in the settlement, packing up their belongings as they prepare to leave. Many have been seen selling scrap materials such as iron rods, doors, and window frames from their homes to local dealers, while taking household goods with them for their journey back to Afghanistan.

Fifty-year-old Abdul Samad, one of the long-time residents, shared his mixed emotions: "We came here as children and are now leaving in old age. Pakistan has been our home, and leaving it brings both sadness and hope.