150,000 Afghan refugees have voluntarily returned, says Kakakhel
PESHAWAR
A special caretaker cabinet meeting held here on Friday with Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan in the chair, meticulously reviewed various issues concerning the evacuation of illegally residing foreigners in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Additional Chief Secretary for Interior Abid Majeed, along with relevant administrative secretaries and officials, attended the meeting.
The cabinet was briefed on the arrangements made by the KP government for the repatriation of illegal immigrants and associated matters.
Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan expressed his contentment with the administration’s efforts in facilitating the return of illegal immigrants to their home countries and the amenities offered in the holding centres.
He commended the roles played by various departments and institutions, including district administration and police, in providing facilities and accommodations for the returning migrants.
The Chief Minister directed that voluntarily returning illegal immigrants be treated with the utmost humanity, ensuring special care during their repatriation, and respecting the province’s traditions and values.
Emphasizing the importance of transparency in all expenses related to the foreign evacuation process, he called for maintaining a detailed record of both regular and emergency expenses.
Mr Khan stressed strict adherence to rules and regulations governing these expenses and the development of mechanisms to ensure transparency.
During a press conference regarding the cabinet meeting’s decisions, Caretaker Minister of Information and Public Relations, Barrister Feroze Jamal Kakakhel, highlighted the need for an orderly and respectful approach to the return of illegal residents, in line with KP’s traditions.
He mentioned exemptions for women and children from biometric requirements, facilities at transit points, and the influx of illegal residents from other provinces into KP, leading to increased responsibilities for the province.
An emergency has been declared in Nowshera, Peshawar, and Khyber districts to improve management.
Kakakhel revealed that the caretaker cabinet approved the release of emergency funds for the relief department, with an estimated expenditure of one billion rupees.
The federal caretaker government has been contacted for immediate provision.
He noted that the federal government will work with provincial governments to share expenses because this issue extends beyond KP to affect all provinces.
Providing statistics, Kakakhel mentioned that approximately 150,000 illegal individuals have voluntarily returned, and the deportation process is ongoing alongside voluntary returns.
The caretaker provincial information minister emphasized the encouragement of voluntary returns.
