KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers Sindh, along with local police and the Malir Development Authority (MDA), have started demolishing the 40-year-old Afghan Basti in Karachi. The operation is part of a government plan to vacate illegally occupied land.
Officials said Rangers have sealed all entry and exit points of the area. Heavy contingents have also been deployed on routes leading to the settlement to maintain law and order during the demolition.
DIG West, speaking to ARY News, revealed that the Afghan Basti once housed around 30,000 Afghan nationals. They were evacuated in three phases. Currently, about 2,000 residents remain in the area. Some vacant houses were reportedly being illegally occupied, which prompted immediate action by authorities.
Irfan Baloch, a senior official, confirmed that after clearing the settlement, the land will be handed over to the Malir Development Authority (MDA) for proper development.
This operation aligns with broader federal efforts to close Afghan refugee camps across Pakistan. Recently, authorities ordered the immediate shutdown of refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Mansehra, Charsadda, and Malakand. Afghan refugees in these areas have been instructed to return to their country.
Federal authorities have also instructed provincial governments to take possession of the land where these camps were located. Similarly, the Punjab government recently launched the third phase of deporting illegal Afghan residents under the Illegal Foreigner Repatriation Plan (IFRP).
In other news read more about Lahore Ranked Among World’s Most Polluted Cities Amid ‘Very Unhealthy’ Air Quality
The demolition of the Afghan Basti in Karachi marks a significant step in implementing the government’s repatriation and land recovery strategy. Authorities have emphasized that operations will continue in an orderly manner, ensuring safety and adherence to legal procedures.
