Pakistan has moved to shut down 16 Afghan refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Punjab as the repatriation of more than 1.3 million Afghans continues.
The Ministry of States and Frontier Regions issued notifications on Sept. 25 denotifying camps in Haripur, Chitral and Upper Dir in KP; Chaghai, Loralai, Killa Saifullah, Pishin and Quetta in Balochistan; and Mianwali in Punjab. Lands and assets will be handed over to provincial authorities.
The move follows the expiration of Proof of Registration cards on June 30, which rendered cardholders unlawful residents. Deportations began Sept. 1. Camps like Panian in Haripur, home to some 90,000 refugees, have been told to vacate but no raids have occurred. Refugees complain of soaring transport costs, with truck fares doubling to as much as Rs600,000.
The U.N. refugee agency has expressed concern, urging returns remain voluntary, safe and dignified. Most camps were set up in the early 1980s after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.