Islamabad, March 7, 2025: The government of Pakistan announced on Friday that Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders must leave Pakistan by March 31, 2025, as part of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program (IFRP), in effect since November 1, 2023.
“All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave voluntarily before March 31, 2025. Deportations will commence from April 1, 2025,” a government statement said.
Officials assured that the repatriation process will be conducted in a humane manner, with food and healthcare facilities provided for returning foreigners. “Pakistan has been a generous host and remains committed to its international obligations,” the statement added. However, authorities emphasized that those wishing to stay must comply with legal formalities and adhere to Pakistan’s constitution.
According to UNHCR statistics, Pakistan hosts around 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, whose validity was extended by the federal cabinet until June 30, 2025.
The federal government has also devised a plan to relocate registered Afghan nationals from Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 2025. Since January 1, 2025, legal Afghan residents in Islamabad and surrounding areas must obtain permission from the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to continue residing there.
