QUETTA: Balochistan caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai rejected criticism of government’s treatment of Afghans and undocumented immigrants, stating that no Afghan refugee is being forcibly deported from Pakistan.

Addressing press conference here, he clarified that action is only being taken against those immigrants who are living in country without valid documents. Jan Achakzai emphasised that Pakistan has been hosting over 1.7 million refugees for many years and will continue to do so in future.

“Caretaker PM and Balochistan Chief Minister have instructed concerned officials to ensure that no guest’s self-esteem is hurt during crackdown,” he added.

He noted that crackdown is underway against those who make fake identity cards (IDs), saying that over 40,000 fake IDs have been blocked in Quetta so far. He announced that NADRA has blocked over one lakh ID cards so far during crackdown. He said that more than twenty thousand people have volunteered to leave Pakistan from Chaman Border.

Achakzai termed issuance of health card in Balochistan as an important milestone. He said that health card is gift to people of Balochistan from government. Under health card, every citizen can receive treatment from any hospital up to one million rupees.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 04 2023

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