800,000 Afghan Refugees Repatriated from Balochistan Including Quetta: Quetta Commissioner Reveals
Quetta (Daily Qudrat) — An important review meeting regarding the repatriation of foreigners and Afghan refugees, ongoing operations, and progress was held under the chairmanship of Quetta Division Commissioner Zeeshan Lashari.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Quetta Mir Allah Badeeni, Deputy Commissioner Quetta West Munir Ahmed Durrani, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Quetta Division Syed Kaleemullah, and officers from the Special Branch, Police, FIA, NADRA, Home Department, United Nations agencies related to Afghan refugees, and other relevant departments.
The meeting reviewed in detail the operations carried out so far for the repatriation of Afghan refugees, administrative measures, progress, challenges faced, and the future course of action.
Briefing the meeting, it was told that approximately 800,000 Afghan refugees have been sent back to Afghanistan from across the province so far, while more than 350,000 Afghan refugees in Quetta have returned to Afghanistan either voluntarily or as a result of operations conducted by the administration.
The briefing stated that joint operations comprising the district administration, police, and FC, among other relevant agencies, are ongoing to make the Afghan refugee repatriation process effective. Currently, approximately 23,000 Afghan refugees remain in Quetta, and action is being taken by the relevant agencies for their repatriation.
The meeting also considered various administrative and practical difficulties faced during the Afghan refugee repatriation process and directed the relevant officers to make mutual coordination more effective so that the repatriation process can be advanced in accordance with rules and regulations.
The meeting also decided that formal instructions will be obtained from the Home Department regarding action against Afghan refugees who are coming back to Pakistan after repatriation or whose re-entry has been reported, after which the future course of action will be adopted in accordance with the law and government policy.
Quetta Division Commissioner Zeeshan Lashari directed the relevant officers to ensure effective coordination among all relevant agencies in the Afghan refugee repatriation process and to advance operations in accordance with government orders and policy.
