Islamabad( The COW News Digital)The ongoing repatriation of Afghan refugees from Balochistan has begun to significantly affect Quetta’s property market, with prices plunging in several key areas once heavily populated by Afghan nationals.
For over four decades, a large number of Afghan families had been living in Quetta’s eastern bypass, Satellite Town, Nawa Killi, and Pashtunabad, where they had purchased residential and commercial properties. However, following the federal and provincial government’s directive for the repatriation of undocumented Afghans, many families are now selling their properties and returning to Afghanistan.
According to local property dealers, real estate prices in Afghan-dominated areas have fallen by 70 to 80 percent, while in some locations — including the Eastern Bypass, Sariab Road, Khrotabad, and Pashtunabad — property values have dropped by as much as 90 percent.
Dealers say that in central Quetta, prices have not declined substantially, but buying and selling activity has nearly come to a standstill. “There are hardly any transactions these days,” said one real estate agent, adding that the uncertainty has left property investors and dealers deeply worried about future market prospects.
Economists warn that the property slump could trigger a wider economic slowdown in Quetta if corrective measures are not taken. “If the government fails to introduce tax relief and support packages for the property sector, this market could enter a prolonged stagnation,” said an analyst. “That would have a ripple effect on construction, labor employment, and small businesses dependent on real estate activity.”
According to official data, ten Afghan refugee camps in Balochistan have already been shut down, and around 85,000 refugees have been repatriated from these facilities. Authorities continue a crackdown against undocumented migrants in Quetta and surrounding districts.
In a recent operation, law enforcement agencies arrested 3,888 illegal Afghan residents from various parts of the city. Officials say the campaign will continue until all undocumented foreigners are sent back to their home country.
The sharp decline in property prices has sparked debate among economists and policymakers about how Quetta’s economy — long shaped by the refugee population — will adapt in the coming months.
