Pakistan to begin repatriating Afghan nationals holding proof of registration cards

Pakistan’s government has announced the formal start of the repatriation process for Afghan nationals holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, beginning September 1, 2025.

A notification issued by the Ministry of Interior confirms that voluntary returns are to commence immediately, while a structured deportation plan will follow from next month as part of the country’s ongoing Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP).

The move comes amid rising national security concerns and increasing pressure on public resources, particularly in border provinces. Officials say the measure aims to regulate the legal status of foreign nationals more strictly and manage overstretched administrative and social systems.

PoR cards were issued by the Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with the UNHCR, to Afghan nationals who fled to the country during decades of war. These cards grant temporary legal stay but do not offer refugee status or a path to permanent residency. With the expiration of many of these cards and no legal provision for indefinite stay, the government has now opted to begin repatriating PoR holders in a phased and “voluntary” manner.

According to the notification, the voluntary return process will begin immediately, while formal deportations are set to start from September 1.

The repatriation of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and other undocumented migrants - already underway under the IFRP - will continue in parallel.

A high-level meeting chaired by the Ministry of Interior on August 1 finalized the implementation framework. To ensure international coordination, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to engage with the Interim Afghan Government (IAG), UNHCR, and other relevant international partners as needed.

On the domestic front, the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), along with the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, will provide updated databases of PoR holders to provincial, divisional, and district-level committees. These committees are responsible for overseeing on-ground execution and adapting logistics as required.

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has been tasked with deregistering returnees at designated transit points and border terminals, and increasing technical capacity to handle the expected volume. Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will assist in managing repatriation at nominated border crossings, also expanding capacity at these locations.

Provincial governments and relevant agencies have been directed to:

• Map all PoR card holders within their regions;
• Develop and submit action plans to the Ministry of Interior;
• Designate and manage transit areas for returning individuals;
• Arrange transportation and financial support for deportees;
• Reactivate control rooms and establish district- and provincial-level implementation committees;
• Ensure the process is humane, orderly, and free from abuse.

At the federal level, a control room will be reactivated within the National Crisis Information Management Cell (NCIMC), which will also establish a complaint redressal cell and hotline for grievances related to the repatriation process.

Daily progress will be monitored through the Foreign Nationals Security Dashboard (FNSD), with updates compiled by the Foreign Nationals Security Cell.

The issue

Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan nationals for over four decades, many of whom fled conflict and instability following the Soviet invasion, civil war, and later Taliban rule. The PoR system was introduced to manage this influx and enable Afghan nationals to access basic services and protection.

However, with shifting security dynamics and limited integration frameworks, the government has increasingly moved toward regulated repatriation.

Since April, and the resumption of the deportation drive, over 200,000 Afghans have returned via Pakistan’s main border crossings - often in overcrowded trucks, carrying their belongings and families. While the government maintains that the current repatriation is based on legal necessity, humanitarian groups have called for safeguards to ensure dignified, voluntary, and safe returns, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, children, and long-term residents.