More than 500,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported so far under the Pakistan caretaker government’s deportation policy against undocumented refugees, the Pakistani interior ministry informed the country’s Senate on Tuesday, according to Pakistani media.

The Express Tribune reported that the reply was submitted in response to a question raised by Pakistani Senator Mohsin Aziz on the number of undocumented residents in the country as well as the number of those who were deported.

The Express Tribune said that in its reply, the interior ministry elaborated on the number of deportations.

“Around 1.7 million illegal aliens are unlawfully living in the country, majority of whom are Afghans. They are living without any legal documentation necessary for staying in the country. Approximately, 541,210 people have been sent back after the cabinet’s approval of the deportation plan for illegal residents,” the ministry said, adding that close to 1.15 million were still residing in the country.

However, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that over 400,000 refugees have been expelled by Pakistan since October last year.

“Since October so far, the number of refugees deported by Pakistan has reached 400,000,” he said.

“The refugees are facing serious challenges as winter arrives including economic, health and food and it is necessary that they should be supported,” said Muslim Stanikzai, a refugee’s rights activist.

 A refugees rights organization of Afghan refugees in Pakistan said that Pakistan has even deported the documented Afghan refugees.

“They lacked documents, it is not considered a major crime. They are being arrested and deported or sometimes released by bail,” said Samiullah, head of the organization.

This comes as a delegation of the Islamic Emirate led by Mullah Shirin Akhund met with the Pakistani officials to discuss various issues including the refugees.