In an effort to assist those who have not yet left Pakistan voluntarily, the government has extended the validity of the Proof of Registration Cards (PoRs) for Afghan refugees, which were set to expire on April 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024. This move comes as the government continues its campaign to remove unauthorized foreigners, according to a statement released on Friday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a federal cabinet meeting at PM House where a decision to this effect was made.
The PoR cardholders would be allowed to use banks, schools, and other amenities while they are in Pakistan thanks to this extension, the cabinet was informed.
It is important to remember that in the third stage of the program for repatriating illegal foreign nationals who have long been in Pakistan, these PoR cardholders would be forcibly returned to their home country.
Since November 1, Pakistan has carried out the first phase of the repatriation program, expelling nearly 500,000 unregistered refugees. The goal of the second phase was to expel refugees who had Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC).
After verifying and registering them with Pakistan’s National Database and Regulation Authority (NADRA), the Pakistani government gave the Afghan refugees ACCs in 2017.
The federal cabinet authorized the creation of an additional special court in Makran Division to handle anti-drug cases in Balochistan on the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice.
