Islamabad( The COW News Digital)More than one million Afghan refugees in Pakistan are facing deep uncertainty and potential financial ruin as their Proof of Registration (PoR) cards expired on June 30, 2025. The expiry has raised fears that these refugees may be forced to sell their decades-old assets at throwaway prices amid uncertainty about their future in Pakistan.
The Pakistani government had announced a repatriation drive for undocumented foreigners in November 2023, citing national security and economic concerns. Since then, approximately 1.3 million Afghans have been repatriated, while an estimated 1.6 million remain in the country. Among them, over one million hold expired PoR cards.
Despite the slow pace of deportations, Afghan refugees fear forced repatriation and financial losses if the government does not extend the validity of their registration cards. Officials have indicated that two options are under consideration: a temporary extension or offering long-term visas. However, no final decision has been made.
Minister of State for Interior, Chaudhry Talal, told The Express Tribune that a new visa policy is being developed to encourage foreign investment, which may benefit Afghan refugees. The policy, he said, will offer incentives for foreign nationals looking to invest and settle in Pakistan.
Afghan businessmen and tribal leaders have raised alarms over the potential economic fallout. Ahmad Shah, a trader from the Dostokhel tribe, revealed that his community holds movable and immovable assets worth approximately Rs. 52 billion in Peshawar, much of it registered under local proxies. “Last year alone, our tribe contributed over Rs. 14 billion ($51 million) in foreign remittances,” he added.
If the government proceeds with mass deportations, many Afghan refugees will be forced to liquidate their hidden assets at significantly reduced values, Shah warned.
The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), under its Beyond Boundaries initiative, is advocating for a sustainable solution to the Afghan refugee issue. The group recommends facilitating Afghan-origin investors through a streamlined visa process and legal residence options, allowing them to continue contributing to the local economy without fear of abrupt displacement.
The future of over a million refugees now hinges on an urgent decision by the federal cabinet, which is yet to finalize the fate of their legal status amid growing pressure from both domestic and international stakeholders.
