RAWALPINDI: The Ministry of Interior has decided to register all foreigners in the country and to make it easier for Pakistanis stuck at the Torkham border to return home. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said “It has been decided to register all foreigners present in the country and persons having fake Afghan visas have also been arrested. Around 40 to 50 thousand foreigners living in the country have no record for the last 70 years and every foreigner would be now registered.” He added that some people who were making fake Afghan identity cards had been apprehended, and that “our effort will be to register every foreigner amid the current situation in the country.” He said that online visa service has been initiated and cases are forwarded to the federal cabinet, as visas are issued to applicants within 30 days. According to the minister 40,000 to 50,000 people have entered the country. More than 4,000 Pakistanis are stranded at the Torkham border, hoping to travel to Saudi Arabia or other Middle Eastern countries, according to the minister, who added that he would speak with the NCOC and other relevant authorities to help them return to Pakistan. The foreigners living in Pakistan would be issued “alien cards”, which will allow them to open bank accounts, start businesses, obtain sim cards and facilitate their travel, Rashid said. He added that foreigners could contact the interior ministry after their visa expires to continue availing these services. The minister further said that Chaman border will be made electronic from the first of August. He stated that rapid coronavirus testing would be carried out, and those who were found to be negative would be returned to the country, while those who were found to be positive would be decided by the NCOC and FC. He also praised NCOC’s efforts to develop an effective pandemic strategy. Sheikh Rashid responded to a question by saying that the case of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) would be sent to the cabinet this week, which would decide its fate. In response to a question, the minister stated that the PTI would win the Azad Kashmir general elections. He added that Imran Khan would also win the country’s next general elections, and that we would have to improve our performance. The interior minister also announced that action would be taken against drug peddlers on a large scale. According to him, more drugs were being imported to Pakistan than were being being sent out. Drugs are being brought into Pakistan from other countries, according to the minister, and those involved in drug trafficking will face severe punishment. He stated that no dialogue with India is possible until New Delhi restores Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy. He condemned Indian action in Kashmir, today when Indian troops martyred four Kashmiri youth and rejected Indian accusations of Pakistani involvement in recent drone activity in the region.