LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday announced that all necessary preparations had been finalised for deportation of foreign nationals residing illegally in Punjab.

In line with the Oct 31 deadline, the directives had been issued to the chief secretary and the inspector general of police to ensure deportation of illegal foreigners from the province, he said.

The chief minister emphasised that action would be taken against the individuals providing shelter to illegal immigrants and that no exceptions would be made for those aiding illegal residents. He added that stringent measures would be taken against any foreign national found residing in Punjab without proper authorization from Nov 1 onwards.

In various districts, `holding areas and temporary camps had been established to facilitate the process of deportation of illegal foreign residents.

Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar directed the officers to remain in close contact with the government to ensure compliance of the gov-ernment`s decision for deporting illegal immigrants.

Mr Anwar said from Nov 3, the deportation of illegal immigrants would start in a phased manner across Punjab, including the areas of Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. He added the illegal immigrants would be transferred outside the boundaries of Punjab from specific points and transport, logistics, food and other arrangements for them would be the responsibility of the respective district administrations.

The IGP was addressing the officials at the Central Police Office on the last day of the deadline for deportation of illegal immigrants on Tuesday.

Giving instructions to all the RPOs, CPOs and DPOs of the province through an online meeting, the IGP said security high alert should be kept during the expulsion of illegal resident foreign nationals.

He asked the RPOs and DPOs to monitor the deportation process themselves.

AdditionalIGInvestigationMuhammad Idrees Ahmed, DIG Operations Waqas Nazir, AIG Admin Amara Athar, senior police of ficers were also present.

In Bahawalpur, the divisional administration has completed arrangements to launch a crackdown on the undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghan refugees, living in the area.

According to officials, there were about 5,000 illegal migrants in the division. Of them, only 20, including mostly Afghan nationals, were so far deported during the current month while remaining ones were yet to be expelled.

The officials said that in Bahawalpur district, 240 refugees were residing and as the deadline set by the government for their expulsion would expire tonight, they might be shifted to rehabilitation centres under the government`s instructions.

The divisional administration has set up five rehabilitation centres, two each in Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan and one in Bahawalnagar.

The Afghan refugees might be shifted by tomorrow before their deportation, subject to the government`s policy.