Transit camp for refugees’ deportation established in Landikotal

LANDIKOTAL: The Khyber district administration on the directives of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department established two temporary deportation camps in Peshawar and Khyber district to facilitate the deportation of illegally residing Afghan refugees, officials said on Thursday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Relief, Khyber, Irshad Ali Mohmand told The News that work has already begun on setting up these facilities, with heavy machinery deployed and tents installed in Landikotal.

The official notification issued by the Home Department confirms that the camps would be located in Jumma Khan Colony in Peshawar, and Gulab Ground in Landikotal. Irshad Ali said the Peshawar camp would accommodate around 2,000 individuals, while the Landikotal camp could house 1,500 people at a time.

Irshad Ali Mohmand further said that the camp staff have been directed to resume their duties in the transit camps at the earliest of 31 March, ensuring smooth operations. He said a comprehensive security plan has been chalked out to maintain law and order throughout the deportation process.

The official said work on the Landikotal facility was progressing rapidly and it would be fully operational by April 1. He said the site was equipped with necessary infrastructure, including shelter, sanitation and administrative offices.

Heavy machinery was actively engaged and tents have already been installed to accommodate the deportees.

Irshad Ali added that officials from the FIA, Customs, Police and NADRA would operate under the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), ensuring a streamlined process. The District Administration would provide administrative support to facilitate operations at the camps.

Irshad said the camps would be manned by officials from the UNHCR, Immigration Department, and other relevant agencies to oversee the deportation process. Add8ng that authorities would ensure that the repatriation of individuals couls be conducted in an organized and lawful manner.

The authorities have also instructed educational institutions - both public and private - to provide data on Afghan students currently enrolled in their schools and colleges. This measure was part of the broader government efforts to identify and regulate undocumented foreign residents.

These deportation camps are part of the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on undocumented foreigners, particularly Afghan nationals, as authorities intensify efforts to repatriate them through legal channels. The initiative aligns with the government’s broader immigration control measures aimed at ensuring border security.

The temporary facilities would provide essential services, including shelter, food, and medical assistance, ensuring that deportees are processed in a structured manner before being transported to the Torkham border crossing for repatriation.

The government has reiterated that only those lacking valid residence documents would be affected by the expulsion drive, urging foreign residents to regularize their status to avoid deportation.

Meanwhile, immigration sources said 200 Afghan nationals residing illegally in the country were deported via the Torkham border on Thursday.

100 Afghan nationals were detained in Rawalpindi, while 100 others were apprehended from different cities before deportation, the sources said. After completing legal formalities at the Torkham Immigration Center, the sources added, they were allowed to cross the border.