A day before report emerged citing that Saudi authorities had recovered 12,000 Pakistani passports from Afghan nationals.

The development comes as law enforcement agencies launch a crackdown on unscrupulous elements involved in issuing fake citizenship documents to illegal migrants in the country.

As per the information available, the main accused of the fake passport-making group was living in Lahore, the agency arrested three including the group leader, a serving officer in the passport office in Islamabad, and one retired officer.

The passports were issued on the fake national identity card.

According to the Pakistani Passports and Immigration authorities, the matter was being fully investigated, and NADRA data was also being audited.

It should be noted that the government gave a deadline of November 1 for foreigners residing illegally in Pakistan to leave the country.