Nearly 2.6 million Afghan nationals have been deported from Pakistan since 2023, with Punjab's home department now intensifying its operations against those staying illegally. The provincial government has established 36 holding centres across Punjab to process and deport undocumented Afghans. Main Developments Punjab alone has detained 138,342 Afghans, completed their documentation, and sent them back to Afghanistan. Currently, 53 individuals remain in the province's holding centres awaiting deportation through the Torkham border crossing. A home department spokesman stated that the federal policy is clear: anyone without a valid visa cannot stay in the country. The department has conducted surveys in markets and residential areas to identify illegal residents. Read also: Lahore Father Arrested for Torturing 11-Year-Old Daughter Over Theft Accusation Background The nationwide crackdown, which began in 2023, targets all foreign nationals residing in Pakistan without proper documentation. The government's approach includes arrest, temporary housing at holding centres, registration, and eventual deportation. Punjab's home department foreign national security cell coordinates the eviction process across the province. Officials have urged residents to report any illegally staying Afghans via emergency call 15, with assurances of confidentiality. Why It Matters This policy directly affects millions of Afghan refugees who fled conflict over decades. The scale of deportation — over 2.59 million people — represents one of the largest such operations in the region, raising humanitarian and diplomatic questions. For residents, the government's call for public cooperation signals a sustained enforcement effort that could expand to other undocumented foreign nationals. What's Next Punjab's holding centres remain operational as authorities continue arrests and processing. The federal government shows no sign of altering its policy, suggesting deportations will persist until all undocumented Afghans are removed.