Islamabad, Jan 3 (IANS): The authorities have asked Afghans staying illegally in a refugee camp in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to vacate within 15 days to avoid eviction, a media report said Saturday.

"We've asked illegal Afghans to leave the Azakhel camp or face eviction," a district administration official said.

"We can shift them to Shamshatoo camp in Peshawar and provide them with tents and other necessary items if they show willingness," Dawn online quoted the official as saying.

He said around 1,500 Afghan refugees have been illegally living in Azakhel camp.

After the massacre of school children in Peshawar last month, the government had begun surveys of refugee camps in the province, including those in Azakhel, Akora Khattak, Khairabad, Jalozai and Pabbi, to learn about illegal occupants.

The government has already informed the UN High Commissioner for Refugees about the refugees living in Azakhel camp illegally.

The official said the administration had asked Afghan refugees to reveal their plans after vacating the camp.

He said if refugees wanted to return home, then the law-enforcement agencies would provide them with security.

Meanwhile, Afghan refugees living in Azakhel camp have appealed to the government to extend the camp vacation deadline.