Balochistan's Minister of Information, Jan Achakzai, has clarified that any foreign individual who remains in the country unlawfully without proper documentation, including Iranians and others - not just Afghan nationals - will be repatriated within the allotted time frame, which is before 1 November, Pakistani Media reported.
"This is the final decision regarding the deportation of all illegal foreign nationals," Achakzai said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The Balochistani minister insisted that Pakistan aims to ensure that illegal migrants secure a dignified departure to their respective country by 31 October.
Achakzai highlighted that the majority of illegal migrants are indeed Afghan refugees. "There are approximately 1.3 million undocumented Afghan nationals living in the nation, including about 300,000 in Quetta," he explained.
According to Achakzai: “Pakistan has hosted more than five million Afghans in the past 40 years and provided all facilities and comfort despite facing financial constraints and other problems.”
Likewise, Achakzai said that Pakistan is only repatriating those living without legal documents. Those refugees registered with UNHCR or holding the Nadra identification cards will stay until further notice.
The measures against illegal immigration, according to Achakzai, will be carried out in compliance with national and United Nations (UN) legislation.