Pakistan’s Punjab Home Department has announced that 139,902 Afghan migrants have been detained and deported as part of the country’s campaign against undocumented foreign nationals.

In a statement issued on Friday, August 1, the department said 248 Afghan migrants are currently being held at 39 detention centers across Punjab and will be deported to Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing after completing legal procedures.

The authorities also urged residents of Punjab to report any information regarding undocumented migrants or individuals involved in producing forged identity or travel documents.

According to official figures released by Pakistani authorities, approximately 2.66 million undocumented Afghan migrants have been returned to Afghanistan over the past three years.

Islamabad has also intensified the arrest of undocumented Afghan migrants during the past three weeks, and the campaign is continuing.

Meanwhile, a number of Afghans living in Pakistan say the government has halted the extension of visas for Afghan nationals. They say the suspension has left many unable to renew their legal residency documents and have called on the Pakistani government to resume the visa renewal process for Afghan citizens.