Harnai, Pakistan – A crackdown on undocumented Afghan workers is underway in the coal mines of Harnai district. Local authorities have issued a stern warning to mine owners: stop employing Afghan workers who lack proper documentation or face legal consequences. This comes as part of a nationwide effort to enforce a March 31st deadline for Afghan refugees to return to their home country.
The Assistant Commissioner’s office in Harnai has sent out a clear message, emphasizing that any Afghan citizen found working in the mines after the deadline, regardless of whether they possess an “ACC Yellow Card” (a temporary stay permit), will be subject to deportation.
Mine owners are being held directly responsible for ensuring their workforce complies with these regulations. Levies forces have been instructed to conduct inspections and report any violations, leaving mine owners scrambling to verify the status of their employees.
This sudden enforcement has sent shockwaves through the Afghan community in Harnai, many of whom have been working in the mines for years. Families are now faced with the difficult choice of returning to an uncertain future in Afghanistan or risking deportation.
Local officials say the move is necessary to regulate the presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. However, human rights groups have expressed concern about the potential for exploitation and abuse of vulnerable workers caught in this situation.
With the deadline fast approaching, tensions are running high in Harnai as Afghan mine workers and their families await their fate.
