The United Kingdom has assured Pakistan that it will address delays in visa processing for Pakistani students seeking to pursue higher education in the UK.
The assurance was given by British High Commissioner Jane Marriott during a meeting with Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar in Islamabad.
The meeting focused on Pakistan-UK relations, matters of mutual interest, and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted difficulties being faced by Pakistani students due to delays in UK visa processing. The minister said hundreds of Pakistani students could potentially lose an academic year if their visas are not issued on time. He stressed the need to remove hurdles faced by students seeking education abroad.
Tarar also briefed the British High Commissioner on the Pakistani government’s efforts to address issues affecting students studying overseas.
The federal minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the formation of a committee under his chairmanship to improve the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students pursuing education abroad.
According to Tarar, the committee has finalized its recommendations, while the government is working to further strengthen the existing framework and establish an effective mechanism for resolving students’ concerns.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott assured the minister that the issue of visa delays affecting Pakistani students would be addressed.
The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen educational ties, institutional cooperation, and engagement between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik also attended the meeting.
The development comes as Pakistani students continue to rely on timely UK visa processing to begin their academic programs without losing valuable study time.
