The Pakistani government has ordered the closure of five Afghan refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as part of its policy to repatriate Afghan citizens.
The camps are located in Haripur, Chitral and Dir Alia areas and their land will be transferred to the state government.
The Panyan camp in Haripur, one of the largest and oldest Afghan refugee camps, has housed more than 100,000 people for nearly four decades.
The decision is part of Islamabad’s broader efforts to reduce the presence of Afghan refugees in the country, which has affected millions since the intensification of forced deportation policies in recent years.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has warned against the forced return of refugees, stressing: “Decisions must take into account humanitarian concerns and the province’s deep historical ties with Afghan communities.”
He called for a more humane approach to implementing this policy.
