LAHORE: The Punjab home department’s Foreign National Security Wing has intensified its ongoing campaign against Afghan nationals residing in the province illegally.

So far 143,000 individuals have been repatriated from the province.

According to official figures, some 2.807 million Afghan nationals have been repatriated from across Pakistan to date, of which 143,474 were deported from Punjab.

Officials said the operation is being carried out in line with the federal government’s policy that the stay of any Afghan national without a valid visa is illegal.

Under the procedure, illegally residing Afghan nationals were being arrested and shifted to holding centres, established across the province. At present, 39 holding centres are functional in Punjab, where 153 Afghan nationals are housed. The centres are equipped with temporary accommodation, registration and repatriation.

After due process, the detainees are handed over to Afghan authorities at the Torkham border.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026