Action against foreign nationals with expired visas on the cards

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take swift action to evict foreign nationals whose visas have expired, as the country faces a deadline to deport thousands of foreign nationals living illegally.

The government said the visa duration for foreign nationals will end on October 3, and those who fail to leave by then will face legal action.

According to official sources, about 6,000 foreign nationals have already left Islamabad, and more will be expelled after the deadline.

The sources said 398 foreign nationals have been arrested in Islamabad for overstaying their visas, and 43 cases have been registered against them at various police stations.

Pakistan has been cracking down on illegal immigrants, especially Afghans, who have fled decades of war and violence in their homeland. The government estimates there are about 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees and another one million unregistered ones in Pakistan.

Pakistan has repeatedly extended the deadline for Afghan refugees to leave the country, but has also faced pressure from the United Nations and human rights groups to allow them to stay on humanitarian grounds.

Web Desk