Approximately 7,500 free SIM cards are distributed daily by telecommunications companies to newly returned migrants at Islam Qala port in western Herat province, according to Hafiz Khairullah Khairkhwa, head of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Department. This initiative, conducted in cooperation with telecom firms, aims to facilitate communication for returnees with their families and provide immediate access to telecommunication services.
All SIM cards are issued after biometric registration, enabling users to instantly access call, messaging, and internet services. Maulvi Baz Mohammad Sarwari, head of the Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA), added that alongside SIM distribution, telecom companies also support refugees with food packages and transportation to accommodation centers.
Returnees have expressed gratitude, noting that free SIM cards significantly ease reconnecting with loved ones and accessing vital information. The government and charitable organizations continue to provide essential services, including humanitarian aid and health care. Over half a million Afghan refugees have recently been deported from Iran, with up to 30,000 daily returns through Islam Qala and 10,000 through the Nimroz Silk Bridge in the past month.
