Following the federal government’s decision to send undocumented foreigners back to their countries, more than 90,000 Afghan refugees have voluntarily returned home via the Torkham border.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Interior Department has set up temporary camps in Peshawar, Haripur and Khyber district for repatriation of illegal Afghan refugees.

From November 1, illegal foreigners will be arrested and transferred to camps, after which they will be sent to Afghanistan via Torkham.

The temporary camp in Peshawar reportedly has a capacity of housing 2,000 people, while food and water will be provided along with medical aid. Special security arrangements have also been made in the temporary camp.

On the other hand, the Department of Home Affairs has also established a ‘control room’ from where the process of return is being monitored. A helpline has also been launched, on which guidance can be provided in case of other problems besides identification of illegal foreigners.

The number of Afghan refugees residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is more than 900,000, while visas were issued to 116,418 Afghans this year.