Govt to bring back stranded Pakistanis

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has contacted the Afghan Consulate to facilitate the return of more than 1,000 Pakistani nationals stranded in Afghanistan, while simultaneously directing the swift deportation of 318 Afghan prisoners from Peshawar Central Jail.

An initial list of 600 Pakistani individuals has already been handed over to the Afghan Consulate for processing. The measures were announced following a high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mehsud on the directives of Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi.

The meeting reviewed arrangements for the dignified and orderly return of undocumented Afghan nationals, focusing on providing necessary facilities and resolving logistical challenges at border transit points. Key decisions included establishing a second holding camp in Landi Kotal, improving amenities at the existing camp, and expanding NADRA registration counters from 22 to 40 to ease congestion and speed up verification.

Additional steps involve separate arrangements for women, extending operating hours until 11pm, and ensuring full provision of food, water, and security for returning refugees. To further reduce rush at the main camp, registration centres will be set up in various districts.