The Interior Ministry of Pakistan’s Punjab province has announced that the process of identifying and deporting Afghan citizens who lack legal residency documents has increased in the province.

The Punjab Interior Ministry said on Friday, September 18, that since the start of the program to return undocumented Afghan migrants in Pakistan, more than 2.7 million people have been transferred to Afghanistan.

According to these figures, more than 142,000 of these individuals have been deported from Punjab province.

Punjab authorities have said that inspections of markets and residential areas of Afghan citizens continue in various parts of the province.

According to the ministry, 39 migrant detention centers are active in Punjab, and currently 213 Afghan citizens are being held in these centers.

The detained individuals are scheduled to be transferred to Afghanistan through the Torkham crossing.

Punjab authorities have also asked citizens to report to security forces if they identify undocumented Afghan migrants.

Pakistan began the widespread process of returning Afghan migrants in late 2023.

At that time, the Pakistani government cited rising security concerns and escalating tensions with the Taliban over attacks by armed groups as factors behind the decision.

These measures continue as United Nations experts have expressed concern over the consequences of forced repatriation of Afghan citizens.