RAWALPINDI: Afghan nationals residing across Punjab province have been advised to get their Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) and visas validated by April 1 or face deportation. On the other hand, the Punjab police chief has sought the details of arrested Afghan nationals from the police across the province.

A senior police official disclosed that an advisory has been issued by the Punjab provincial authorities regarding Afghan nationals whose visas and ACCs have expired as a deadline has been set for them to get their documents renewed.

ACC is an identification document issued to registered Afghan nationals by Nadra. According to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM), ACC gives temporary legal status to Afghans during their stay in Pakistan.

On the other hand, the inspector general of police (IGP) has sought reports from all divisional police chiefs regarding Afghan nationals arrested across Punjab province.

According to sources, Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar has issued a directive to all regional police officers, city police officers and district police officers to submit the details of arrests made in their respective districts.

The IGP has directed them to send him reports containing names, FIR numbers, police station with which cases are registered, those who had been declared proclaimed offenders or those who were on bail and their trial status.

The police have been asked to send the details of arrested Afghan nationals through email till Monday. A police official said that whenever any illegal Afghan national is detained during search operations, he/she is handed over to the district administration and subsequently they shift them to a camp located near the Golra area for deportation.

Thousands of Afghan nationals fled to Pakistan after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, sources said. Some of them reportedly left for other countries but a significant number still live in the country, they added.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2025