UK assures Pakistan of swift action on students’ visa delays

ISLAMABAD: The federal law and justice minister raised the issue of delays in UK visas for Pakistani students while the British high commissioner assured resolution of the issue.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott called on Federal Minister for Law & Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. The meeting discussed Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, says a press release issued here.

It said that during the meeting, the minister raised the issue of delays in UK visas for Pakistani students and conveyed the government’s concern to the British High Commissioner.

The law minister said that hundreds of Pakistani students were facing difficulties due to delays in visa processing, with a risk that the delays could result in the loss of their academic year.

He stressed the need to remove obstacles faced by Pakistani students seeking education abroad and facilitate them in this regard. The minister briefed the British high commissioner that, on the directives of the prime minister, a committee under his chairmanship was working to improve the legal and institutional framework concerning Pakistani students studying abroad.

He further informed the high commissioner that, on the prime minister’s directives, the committee had finalised its recommendations on the matter, and work was underway to further improve the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students pursuing education abroad.

The minister said that the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students seeking education abroad was being improved to develop an effective mechanism for addressing the issues faced by students.

Ms Marriott assured the Federal Minister that the issue of delays in visas for Pakistani students would be addressed. The meeting also discussed further strengthening educational linkages between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, as well as enhancing institutional cooperation and engagement between the two countries.

The press release said that Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik was also present during the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2026