UK visa rules to be relaxed for Pakistan nationals
by Florence Gibbs - February 25, 2011
United Kingdom, 25th February: The UK visa rules will be softened for the Pakistani nationals to extend increased opportunities in the UK.
This has been revealed by the UK immigration minister Damian Green. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Green said that the move is for attracting and inviting the best and the brightest talent from Pakistan to the UK.
The new rules for UK immigration will see issuance of UK business visas to be issued within a short span of just five days.
The normal time taken for issuance of UK business visas ranges between 8 to 10 days, Green added in the press conference with Rehman Malik, the Pakistan Interior Minister on 22nd February.
Meanwhile, there will be zero tolerance for undocumented immigrants living in the UK and the nation is likely is take stern steps against such people, the Pakistan minister clarified.
It may be noted that the strict UK visa rules had been posing difficulties for the aspiring Pakistani citizens wanting to get UK visas last year.
And majority of such people included students from Pakistan.
The UK immigration prolonged the issuance of UK student visas for as long as six months. It’s being hoped that relaxation of UK visa norms will make it easier for Pakistanis to move to the UK without facing unnecessary delays.
Among those present in the joint press conference included a UK MP (Member of Parliament) Sayeeda Warsi, who led the UK delegation in Pakistan. Ms Warsi was all praises for the Pakistanis living abroad including the UK, Europe and the US.
She said that Pakistanis based in overseas nations are a source of great strength for the nation and they are desirous of working for the prosperity of their nation and for the welfare of their fellow beings.
The Pakistanis based in the UK can register their complaints at a special cell set up with the collaborative efforts of the Coast Guards, police and the Federal Investigation Agency, revealed Mr. Malik.
He also asserted that people must come forward openly to reveal about the agents guilty of cheating them or promising to send them to the UK through illegal ways.
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