Demolition drive intensifies in Karachi’s Afghan refugee colony

A major anti-encroachment drive entered its fifthv day in Karachi, as authorities continued a large-scale demolition in the Afghan refugee settlement of Gulshan-e-Maymar, razing hundreds of illegal structures, built on government land.

According to officials, more than 1,200 residential and commercial units have been demolished so far in the locality known as Afghan Khema Basti, which was established in 1984 and spans approximately 215 acres. The area, valued in billions of rupees, falls under the jurisdiction of the Malir Development Authority (MDA).

Director Anti-Encroachment Amir Fazal Owaisi and SHO Zone 1 Shayan Anjum said the operation is part of the government’s broader policy to repatriate Afghan nationals and reclaim encroached public land. The settlement previously housed over 3,200 structures and was home to thousands of Afghan refugees.

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Sunday’s phase of the operation involved coordinated teams from the Anti-Encroachment Force Zone 1, the MDA, and the district police. Heavy machinery was deployed to flatten structures, while a strong police presence was ensur ed to prevent any unrest.

DSP Manghopir Masroor Ahmed Jatoi said the settlement once sheltered around 15,000 Afghan refugees, of whom more than 90% — approximately 14,000 individuals — have already returned to Afghanistan. “The remaining 800 to 1,000 residents are expected to leave in the coming days,” he added.

He confirmed that similar anti-encroachment actions were being carried out in other parts of Karachi against Afghan nationals residing illegally, in line with official policy.

Authorities said the ongoing operation in Gulshan-e-Maymar will continue until all encroachments are cleared and the land is completely reclaimed.

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 besides taking household goods with them for their journey back to Afghanistan.