Pakistan, July 13 -- The Punjab Home Department confirmed on Sunday that 138,342 illegally staying Afghan nationals had been repatriated from the province under the federal government's ongoing drive against illegal foreign residents.

A spokesperson for the department said the Foreign National Security Cell was continuing coordinated operations across Punjab in accordance with the national policy. So far, a total of 2,588,016 Afghan nationals have been repatriated from Pakistan.

The spokesperson said all Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan without valid visas were considered to be staying illegally under the government's policy. As part of the ongoing crackdown, inspections of residential areas and markets have been completed across t...