KP CM Says Afghans Could Add Billions to Economy
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has called on the federal government to grant Pakistani citizenship to Afghan nationals, arguing that many of them could inject billions of dollars into the country’s economy.
In an interview with Samaa TV, he said Afghans already run large businesses in Pakistan and could contribute even more if policies were relaxed. He pointed out that Western countries had extended citizenship to Afghans, questioning why Pakistan could not adopt a similar approach.
Gandapur also addressed the flood emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, noting he was unable to visit Punjab to express solidarity due to the crisis in his own province. He stressed, however, that Punjab remained close to KP, pledging full support for relief efforts.
Read More: ARFC — The Strategic Vision
The remarks came after the expiry of Pakistan’s deadline for Afghan nationals holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to voluntarily leave the country.
Officials confirmed that Afghans with valid visas would not face deportation, while expired visa holders were being offered assistance. So far, 16,400 Afghans have been deported from Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency UNHCR expressed concern about the plan to forcibly repatriate PoR cardholders. It said it had received reports of arrests and detentions of Afghans, including those with registration documents.
