The Sindh Home Department has ordered a fresh, province-wide mapping of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Sindh, amid growing concerns over secondary migration, fraudulent identity documents and concealed property ownership. The directives were issued during a high-level review meeting of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) Phase-III, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) at the Sindh Secretariat.
According to detailed official data presented by the Additional Inspector General, Special Branch, a total of 231,381 Afghan nationals have been repatriated from Sindh under all three phases of the federal government’s policy. These include 82,916 in Phase-I (Nov 2023–Feb 2025), 44,584 in Phase-II (Feb–Aug 2025) and 103,881 under Phase-III (since September 1, 2025).
The meeting was informed that 101,238 Afghans returned to Afghanistan voluntarily through the Chaman border, while 2,643 individuals were processed through Sindh’s transit points during Phase-III. Official estimates put the total Afghan population—legal, illegal, ACC and POR holders—at approximately 297,800 across the province.
However, the forum expressed serious concern that 66,419 Afghan nationals still remain in Sindh, despite continuous repatriation efforts. Intelligence updates shared during the meeting warned of Afghan families leaving their traditional settlements in Karachi and attempting to move quietly into interior Sindh districts, potentially creating new clusters that evade monitoring.
District police across Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur and Larkana divisions were directed to maintain strict vigilance and launch immediate action against Afghans attempting to resettle outside Karachi. Officials said that any “secondary migration” will undermine the provincial tracking system developed over the past two years.
Special Branch, district police and military intelligence agencies will now jointly conduct a fresh enumeration exercise, verifying addresses, mobility patterns and undocumented Afghan clusters.
The meeting reviewed several cases of suspicious Pakistani CNICs allegedly obtained by Afghan nationals. NADRA officials were directed to fast-track verification of all flagged identity cards and initiate cancellation procedures where fraud is proven.
The Home Department directed police and Special Branch to register cases under relevant laws against any Afghan national found holding a forged CNIC. District administrations were told to keep strict watch on individuals who facilitate identity fraud.
The Chair ordered action against property owners, landlords or agents who rent out houses or shops to Afghan nationals without verification. Public messaging campaigns will be launched through mosques, community centres and social media to warn citizens of penalties for providing shelter to illegal foreign residents.
Deputy Commissioners across Sindh have been tasked with compiling detailed inventories of properties, shops, transport businesses and assets owned or operated—directly or indirectly—by Afghan nationals. Commissioners will supervise data compilation and present consolidated findings to the Home Department for policy action.
Officials acknowledged concerns that some Afghan-operated businesses continue to function under Pakistani nominees or forged documentation.
The meeting noted the slow progress of the ongoing registration of Ismaili Afghan nationals, averaging just 65 registrations per day since late October. To speed up the process, NADRA will set up a static registration centre inside an Ismaili Jamaat Khana, with the capacity to register up to 500 persons daily.
Ismaili community representatives assured authorities they would provide accurate phone numbers and residential addresses to ensure smooth coordination.
Due to persistent electricity shortages at the TMC Gaddap registration site, NADRA proposed relocating its facility to Gaddap Police Station. DIG East informed the meeting that the rush at the existing site had become manageable, and district authorities, including DC and SSP Malir, were instructed to facilitate the shift.
The meeting concluded with a set of strict directives that a new mapping operation of Afghan nationals under joint intelligence-police supervision, crackdown on attempts to resettle Afghan families outside Karachi, accelerated verification of suspected fake CNICs, legal action against fraudulent document holders and their facilitators, a province-wide survey of Afghan-owned or Afghan-run properties and businesses, and dedicated high-capacity registration centres for Ismaili Afghan nationals.
Officials said the fresh mapping and enforcement actions would help the provincial government accurately assess the ground situation and plug all loopholes in tracking the movement and activities of Afghan nationals in Sindh.