Punjab Offers Cash Reward for Reporting Illegal Afghan Nationals

DID Press: The provincial government of Punjab, Pakistan, has announced a cash reward of 10,000 rupees for any citizen who reports undocumented Afghan nationals to the police. Authorities have pledged to keep the identities of informants strictly confidential.

According to Pakistani media, under the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, all district security units have been instructed to verify reports about Afghans lacking legal residence documents or using forged papers, and to pay the promised reward to informants.

The initiative also targets Afghans who entered Pakistan on tourist or medical visas but have since established businesses illegally.

Punjab officials said the measure is part of a broader crackdown aimed at identifying and detaining undocumented Afghan nationals. Police have also warned that property owners renting houses or shops to illegal Afghan residents could face prosecution.

Official figures show that in early November, the number of Afghans detained in Pakistan surged by 150 percent, with 7,764 individuals—mostly in Balochistan—arrested during that period.

Meanwhile, deportations and voluntary returns have accelerated, with a total of 37,448 Afghans returning to their country. Among them, 7,733 were formally deported, while others left voluntarily. Nearly 47 percent of the returnees held Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, and 44 percent were undocumented.

Pakistani security officials say the main reason behind the growing number of voluntary returns is fear of arrest and legal action.