KARACHI, Aug 23: The pace of registration of illegal immigrants with the National Aliens Registration Authority (NARA) in Karachi has slowed down since July, particularly after the announcement of schedule for the general elections.

NARA began its operation in January and registration started in the end of February. By the end of June, it registered about 18,600 illegal immigrants, but after that the number of aliens approaching for registration went on declining, a NARA official told PPI.

The official was of the view that this trend was probably due to political groups and other vested interests, who might have asked illegal immigrants to wait for future political government which might grant them citizenship. “Certain industrialists, having political affiliations, are involved in patronizing these aliens for securing cheap labour,” he said.

There are about two million aliens, including over 1.1 million Bengalis, in Karachi. They work as domestic servants in hotels, factories and the fishing sector. They have spread to Gwadar, Thatta, Badin and other towns of Sindh and Balochistan, the official said, adding that at the Balochistan government‘s request a NARA team visited Gwadar and registered about 120 aliens in the area.

The official said NARA was setting up two camp offices - on Manghopir Road, SITE, and in Karimabad.—PPI