The authorities concerned would also approach the federal government to install a passport reader in the border town.
These issues were taken up at a high-level meeting in Chaman chaired by caretaker Chief Minister Ali Mardan Domki and attended by FC IG Major General Aamir Ajmal, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Balochistan Police Chief Abdul Khaliq Sheikh and others.
The meeting was informed that at least 150 Afghan families had been deported in recent days under an ‘effective mechanism’ set up in the border town.)
A monitoring committee has also been set up with representatives from the police, levies and district administration to oversee the repatriation process.
Three camps set up in border town to house undocumented migrants
The meeting was informed that at least three camps have been set up to house undocumented migrants who will be rounded up after the November 1 deadline, before they are deported to their home countries.
“All necessary facilities have already been provided in the camps and in view of the increasing number of migrants, more camps would be set up in Chaman,” the meeting was told.
Tribal Jirga
Addressing a jirga, CM Domki said that the decision to repatriate refugees was final and would apply to all immigrants living illegally in Pakistan.
Additional staff had been recruited at the Chaman passport office, he said, adding that the office would remain open 24 hours a day. In addition, a passport office would soon be opened in Qila Abdullah.
He said the registration of traditional Afghan identity documents (e-tazkira) would be completed in two days, replacing them with passports and e-documents. A focal point has been set up at the deputy commissioner’s office in Chaman to conduct immediate investigations into any cases of misconduct.
Mir Domki said the government was well aware of the difficulties faced by families living at the border, who may face temporary hardship, but a comprehensive action plan was being drawn up to address the issue. In addition, they were also proposing feasible measures regarding restrictions on items that fall under Afghan trade.
Aiming to become a ‘normal state
Calling it a state policy, Balochistan’s caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai vowed that the expulsion of illegal immigrants was part of the country’s move to become a ‘normal state’.
Addressing a press conference at a local hotel, he claimed that the government’s decision to “expel illegal immigrants would also attract foreign investment as it would create a conducive atmosphere for international companies to enter the local market”.
“Several countries are currently exploring investment opportunities in Pakistan,” the caretaker minister said.
“We have to transform ourselves into a normal state. And for that, we have to secure our borders, because no normal state can afford to have porous borders. We have to implement the passport system and decide on the citizenship status of people in the country”.
He claimed that the government’s campaign was against “illegal aliens” and not against any particular nation or ethnic group.
“These decisions will have a multi-dimensional impact because through this campaign we will also target the hundi who are damaging our economy and banking system,” he added.
Pakistan only wants to “remove illegal immigrants from its soil and will no longer tolerate border crossings without complying with legal requirements”, said caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi.
The minister said Pakistan had hosted more refugees than any other country in the past four decades. He claimed that countries “cannot survive with soft borders that allow undocumented people to stay freely and forge fake passports and identity cards”.
