Eviction Deadline Looms: Afghan Businesses in Peshawar Begin Shutdown

Afghan nationals in Peshawar are closing businesses in response to a March 31 deadline for voluntary departure. Following this, mass deportations are set to begin. Educational institutions and clinics are among those shutting down, with many Afghans already returning home. The campaign originally began in October 2023.

With a looming deadline, Afghan nationals residing in Peshawar, Pakistan, are beginning to shut down their enterprises. They have until March 31 to leave voluntarily, as mandated by the government.

The Ministry of Interior has cautioned that mass deportations will follow the deadline, affecting even those with legal residency via Afghan Citizen Cards. Businesses, schools, and clinics in Peshawar have started closing, and many Afghans have already returned to their homeland.

This movement marks the latest phase in a campaign that began in October 2023, initially targeting undocumented Afghans but now encompassing all Afghan residents in Pakistan. The expulsion effort reflects a significant policy shift for a country that has long hosted Afghan refuges.

(With inputs from agencies.)