Question Period Note: Migrants sans papier au Pakistan

On October 3, 2023, Pakistan's caretaker government announced that foreign nationals residing “illegally” or without documentation are cautioned to depart by October 31

• Our goal to bring at least 40,000 Afghan nationals to Canada by the end of the year is unwavering and is one of the largest around the world.
• Pakistan has been an integral partner in Canada's Afghan resettlement efforts.
• We continue to do everything we can to bring Canada bound Afghans safely and quickly to Canada. To date, Canada has resettled thousands of Afghan refugees through Pakistan, and so far, more than 39,000 Afghan refugees have started new lives in Canada.
• The Government of Canada, including Canada's High Commission in Islamabad, has maintained an active and constructive dialogue with the Government of Pakistan at the highest levels on issues related to resettlement, and the protection environment for vulnerable Afghans.
• The Government of Canada continues to advocate for streamlined procedures and strengthened protections for vulnerable Afghans.

On October 3, 2023, the Pakistan caretaker government, in place since August 2023, announced plans to deport foreign nationals residing in Pakistan illegally, beginning November 1, 2023. This includes the more than 1.7 million Afghans in Pakistan who have fled neighbouring Afghanistan. The Government of Canada has committed to resettling at least 40,000 vulnerable Afghans by the end of 2023, which is one of the largest commitments in the world. Despite challenges facilitating movement out of Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans have transited through Pakistan since August 2021. Canada remains focused on providing recovery support to Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan, in response to the devastating floods of 2022. To date, Canada has committed to delivering $58 million in humanitarian and development support in response to the 2022 floods. This includes the most recent January 2023 pledge of $25 million CAD to address flood recovery and reconstruction needs. Beyond the 2022 floods, Canada's additional bilateral development efforts remain concentrated on the rights of women and girls in Pakistan. In 2022/23, Canada provided $36 million in bilateral development assistance to Pakistan to support flood recovery, women's and girls' reproductive health and rights, girls' access to education, women's political participation and economic empowerment, and polio eradication. The above $36 million includes $14 million for projects announced by Minister Hussen on September 27 for Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan.

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