Pakistan decides to intensify crackdown on foreigners residing illegally in country

Pakistan has decided to ramp up its crackdown on illegal foreign residents, as the federal government moves to tighten internal security and strengthen immigration controls.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad on Saturday.

The meeting reviewed a wide range of national security issues, with particular focus on illegal immigration, digital enforcement, and anti-encroachment operations.

Minister Naqvi announced that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will now provide live data verification services at all exit points to curb the movement of undocumented individuals. “All institutions must collaborate to fully implement the One Document System,” he said, stressing the need for inter-agency coordination.

He also called for joint efforts between federal and provincial bodies to eliminate what he described as the "illegal spectrum" — referring to undocumented and unregulated elements within the country.

Highlighting another area of concern, the interior minister said the begging mafia was damaging Pakistan’s image internationally. “This must be dealt with strictly,” Naqvi stated, adding that legislation should be introduced to make begging a non-bailable offense.

Pakistan’s drive to expel illegal foreign nationals, particularly undocumented Afghan migrants, began in earnest in October 2023, when the federal government announced a deadline for all undocumented foreigners to leave the country voluntarily. Authorities said the move was aimed at addressing growing security concerns and unregulated migration.

The deadline led to the mass departure of tens of thousands of Afghans, many of whom had lived in Pakistan for decades without formal documentation.

The campaign drew criticism from international human rights organizations and the Afghan Taliban administration, but Islamabad maintained that the policy was a matter of internal sovereignty and national security. Since then, authorities have continued to tighten enforcement, including deportation operations, biometric checks, and stricter border controls.