Undocumented Afghan refugees continue to depart from the country with only one day left in the deadline imposed by the government for their voluntary return.
Reports said that a total of 104,481 Afghan refugees have returned across the border since the government issued its ultimatum.
Of the number, 11,553 refugees made their way to Afghanistan on Monday including 3,153 men, 2,823 women and 5,577 children.
The 487 families made their way back on 512 vehicles.
Reports have added that announcements are continuously being made from mosques in areas adjoining the Pak-Afghan border to remind refugees to leave before the deadline.
The announcements also include reminders to people renting out their properties to illegal refugees, warning them of action if the refugees do not leave before November 1.
Read:Pakistan sets Nov 1 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave country
Authorities have also made arrangements to provide food to returning refugees at the Friendship gate, since many families are unable to cross when they arrive after the border gates are closed in the evening.
The government has already announced the establishment of ‘holding centres’ across all four provinces where undocumented refugees who do not leave will be confined.
Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said that the centres were equipped with food and medicine to allow families to live safely. However, strick security arrangements will be made so the refugees do not leave the centres.
Over 40 holding areas have been set up across the country where the refugees will be kept until they are deported.
Centres have been established in all 36 districts of Punjab. In addition three centres have been made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Haripur, Peshawar and Landi Kotal.
The government has also set up two centres in Sindh in Kemari and Malir as well as three in Balochistan in Quetta, Pishin and Changhi.
One centre each has also been established in Gilgit and Islamabad.
The minister has also announced that the refugees will not be allowed to carry more than AFN50,000 across the border. This comes after the original announcement, that properties of illegal refugees will be confistcated after the deadline.
Pakistan has hosted millions of refugees who started trickling into the country during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The movement has continued over the last three decades and gained a renewed emphasis after the fall of Kabul.
