PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan has extended the deadline for the repatriation of the Afghans awaiting relocation to Western countries.
Required to leave by Dec. 31, they have been living in Pakistan without proper documentation in the wake of the August 2021 regime change in Afghanistan.
However, the federal cabinet decided on Wednesday to extend the deadline to Feb 29, 2024 to encourage the Afghans to obtain legal documents or finalise evacuation arrangements in a third country.
After the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Murtaza Solangi told reporters a media briefing in Islamabad the fine on Afghan nationals overstaying in Pakistan had been slashed by 50 percent.
Those who have to leave for a third country and do not have legal documents or processing fees will be fined $400 instead of $800 a month.
After the due date, the cabinet decided, a fine would be imposed at the rate of $100 per month with a maximum limit of $800.
The meeting participants were told 450,000 Afghans had gone back to their homeland since November 1.
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