ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: Over 8,000 mud houses were demolished in three months at Afghan kutcha abadi located between I-11 and H-11 sectors, a source told Dawn on Wednesday.

The operation regarding removal of these houses started on May 16 on the directive of the government, the source said.

“Some 3,000 houses are still there which will be removed in near future,” the source added.

The source said before the Afghans repatriation to their homeland, some 100,000 refugees were residing in the capital and now the number had reduced to 40,000.

He said: “Those who want to stay in Pakistan will be shifted to some confined places near the bordering areas.”

The Afghan kutcha abadi was established in 1979 to provide rehabilitation facilities to the refugees.

Following the completion of repatriation process, the Capital Development Authority will not allow any Afghan to reoccupy the same area, a senior official of the CDA said.

The official said some 40 acres of land which had already been allotted to some departments and individuals had been occupied by the refugees. “Now, the land will be handed over to the allotees,” he added.

He agreed that the removal of Afghan kutcha abadi was the biggest hurdle in the removal of all other Kutcha Abadis.