Landlords of illegal residents to be booked

Patwaris, Numberdars, SHOs to be tasked to compile reports

The Punjab government has decided to register FIRs against citizens who rent or lease out property to foreign nationals residing unlawfully in the province.

It was also decided in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz that daily reports would be submitted on houses, shops, factories, hotels, petrol pumps or any other property rented to Afghan or any other foreign nationals.

The government directed the relevant authorities to make announcements from mosques across Punjab to help identify illegally residing Afghan nationals.

The Patwaris, Numberdars and SHOs will be asked to compile reports in this regard.

It was agreed in the meeting to conduct a comprehensive field survey across all districts in the province to collect updated data on illegally residing foreigners.

The participants approved legal action against Afghans or other foreigners who have entered Pakistan on visit visas or illegally and are engaged in economic activities without authorisation.

The provincial government sought a report from the stakeholders on anonymous and suspicious properties, and made it clear that any person found renting or leasing property to illegal foreign residents would face stern action.

Officials said five FIRs had already been registered in Khanewal against individuals who had rented properties to illegal Afghan residents.

They said the facial recognition technology is being used to identify Afghan nationals living illegally in the province, besides establishing 45 'Holding Centres' to provide them accommodation, meals and transport facilities up to Torkham border.