Uncertainty Looms Over 1 Million Afghan Refugees As Por Cards Expire Without Renewal

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) More than one million Afghan refugees in Pakistan are facing an uncertain future after their Proof of Registration (PoR) cards expired at the end of last month, leaving their legal status in limbo.

The looming threat of forced return or loss of documentation has triggered anxiety among refugees, many of whom fear being compelled to sell assets, built over decades, for a fraction of their value.

While the government's broader repatriation plan for undocumented foreigners has slowed in recent months, Afghan refugees remain concerned that without an extension of their legal stay, they will have to hastily offload properties and investments at a significant loss.

In November 2023, Pakistani authorities announced a crackdown on all undocumented foreign nationals due to rising security and economic concerns. According to data compiled by a UN agency, nearly 1.3 million Afghans have been repatriated since then, while an estimated 1.6 million still reside in Pakistan.

Of those, over one million hold expired PoR cards that lapsed on June 30, 2025. According to officials overseeing the matter, the government is currently considering two options: a temporary extension of PoR cards or offering long-term visas.

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No decision has yet been made regarding the renewal of the PoR cards. However, Talal Chaudry, Minister of State for Interior, has said that the government is working on a new visa policy for foreigners. The proposal has been discussed at the federal cabinet level, though no final decision has been reached.

Talal added that the new visa policy will offer incentives for foreign investment in Pakistan, and Afghan nationals could also benefit from it.

One of the organizations working toward a solution is Beyond Boundaries, an initiative by the Center for Research and Security Studies, which advocates for long-term solutions for Afghan refugees.

The initiative argues that refugees who arrived in Pakistan after 1979 should not be forced to sell off their properties at throwaway prices and instead should be integrated as contributors to the local economy.

A businessman from the tribal region, highlighted the scale of Afghan economic participation, revealing that members of the Dostokhel tribe alone hold assets in Peshawar, registered under others' names, worth approximately Rs52 billion. He further stated that his tribe contributed over Rs14 billion ($51 million) in foreign remittances last year.

"If the government decides to deport all Afghan refugees, we'll be forced to sell our benami properties for pennies," said Ahmad Shah.

Following multiple rounds of behind-the-scenes consultations, Beyond Boundaries has recommended easing visa procedures and providing accommodation to Afghan-origin entrepreneurs to encourage continued investment in Pakistan.

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