Afghan Repatriation Turns Quetta’s Eastern Bypass into a Ghost Town

Quetta: The repatriation of Afghan refugees from Balochistan continues as thousands of families pack up their homes and head back to Afghanistan. According to official figures, more than **35,000 Afghan refugees** have already left Quetta, with many more preparing to depart in the coming days.

Once a bustling neighborhood, Quetta’s **Eastern Bypass area**, which Afghan families had transformed from barren land into a vibrant settlement over the past three decades, is now falling silent. Many departing refugees are **demolishing their own homes** and taking building materials with them, anticipating a lack of similar facilities in Afghanistan.

Feroz, a resident of **Qadirabad**, said, “We came here 40 years ago and built this community with our own hands 35 years back. Now, once again, we are being forced to migrate. Most of us are poor and leaving empty-handed — some don’t even have enough money for travel.”

Meanwhile, at the **Chaman border crossing**, refugees are facing delays in check-in procedures, causing hardship for families waiting to cross. Many say they are eager to return before the **harsh Afghan winter**, as they fear facing severe weather without proper shelter or facilities. They have urged Pakistani authorities to **speed up border clearance** to allow timely return.

Commissioner **Meharullah Badini** confirmed that the exodus from Quetta is ongoing and that the district administration is facilitating the process. He said that **35,000 refugees** have so far departed, and more are being processed daily before being temporarily accommodated in camps in Chaman prior to crossing the border.

In Quetta, some refugees are attempting to **sell their houses and belongings**, but they complain that buyers are offering **unfairly low prices**, causing financial losses. Locals have also reported instances where **one house was sold to multiple buyers**, leading to disputes.

Property prices in Afghan-populated areas of Quetta have **plummeted**, affecting both local investors and housing schemes. Residents who had invested in these areas are now suffering heavy losses as the once-thriving neighborhoods empty out.