“Our lives will be disturbed if we are expelled from Pakistan. It is very painful to start life from zero,” says Gulam Rabbani, an Afghan national residing in Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Rabbani arrived in Pakistan 37 years ago after the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. He has been living in the Afghan Colony of Peshawar and working in the leather garments designing sector.

“Hundred percent of our leather garments are exported to foreign countries. Our businesses create employment for the locals and also a source of attracting foreign exchange for the country,” he said.

Pakistan recently set a deadline of November 1 for all illegal refugees to sell their properties and leave the country. After the deadline, all illegal foreigners would be deported. Operations have begun rounding up Afghan refugees in many cities including Islamabad already.

Rabbani said that Pakistan is gearing up to expel Afghan nationals at a time when the government badly needs foreign exchange, in which Afghan immigrants can play a vital role.

“Almost all Afghan immigrants in Pakistan are businessmen. They are not a burden on the economy of Pakistan. They are paying taxes on their earnings,” Rabbani said.

According to him, the Afghan nationals in the country do not depend on government-provided rations, and other necessary things to increase the burden on the Pakistani economy. “That system has long gone now, in which people would wait for ration from the government.”

He believed that the decision to expel Afghan nationals would negatively affect the investment sector, saying that the government is trying to attract foreign investment through different schemes and policies.

Read: Kabul reacts to expulsion of Afghan nationals living illegally in Pakistan

“Afghan businessmen, doing business are also investing money in the country’s economy. It is not as if they are earning without giving anything back to the economy,” he added.

Rabbani urged for forming policies and making laws to adjust the Afghan nationals in the country, so they can take part in the development of the country while also working towards the betterment of their lives.

After the government announced its decision to expel Afghan immigrants, at least 16 trucks, having 30 Afghan families aboard, arrived at the Torkham border in the Khyber district of KP a day earlier, the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees said.

The returning Afghan families comprise 350 people, the authority said, adding that they would be allowed to return after legal formalities.

Approximately 1.42 million – out of the total 4.4 million Afghan nationals – have proof of registration, according to the interior ministry. Pakistan hosts 0.85 million Afghan citizen card holders and 1.73 million illegal Afghan nationals.