While Pakistan threatens to deport or imprison illegal immigrants starting next month, the United Nations migration agency warns Afghans in the country seeking to immigrate that they must inform their hotels of their whereabouts when they go out on errands.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) helps resettle migrants by arranging matters such as food and shelter while they wait for permission to come to countries like Canada. The IOM told CBC News that its staff in Pakistan are concerned about the situation of Afghans in the country following Islamabad's recent threat of mass deportation.

Earlier this month, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that migrants without valid documents have until November 1 to obtain them. Those who fail to obtain the documents by that time face deportation or imprisonment.

The warning was almost immediately followed by a joint statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the IOM urging Pakistan to continue to protect all vulnerable Afghans.

The statement added that the forced return of Afghan citizens to their home country could lead to serious human rights violations, including family separation and the deportation of minors.

Pakistan has seen an influx of Afghans fleeing Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in August 2021.

The country estimates that about 1.4 million Afghans live within its borders.

This is not the first time Pakistan has threatened to deport or imprison undocumented migrants. Last year, it began posting ads on social media and television warning them of the need to obtain visas by the end of December.

For its part, the Canadian government told CBC News at the time that it had received assurances from Pakistan that Afghans already on their way here would only face fines or a ban on return, not deportation or imprisonment.

In response to a question about whether the Government of Pakistan had offered similar assurances on this occasion, the Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) stated in an email that it is in continuous contact with Pakistan.

The IRCC also mentioned that it cannot provide operational details or delve into the substance of bilateral discussions with other countries, citing the need to protect refugees.

It added that it provides its immigrant clients with documents proving to the Government of Pakistan that they have an application in progress.

Nasimi also showed CBC News a copy of a letter issued by the Canadian High Commission in Pakistan to him in June. The letter stated that the individual holding this letter and listed here is under consideration for permanent residence in Canada by the immigration section of the Canadian High Commission.