UK visa fees: Nisar expresses concern over Gerry’s contract
Issues directive to FIA to probe alleged irregularities
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD:
Federal Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has expressed his deep reservations over alleged irregularities in the contract of Pakistan High Commission London with Gerry’s for processing visa applications of Pakistanis.
Chaudhry Nisar on Friday issued directives to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe the alleged irregularities regarding awarding of the contract in this respect which was given during the previous regime and present a report.
Moreover, he stressed that the interior ministry and the ministry of foreign affairs should ensure that no Pakistani ambassador or high commissioner, for the sake of his own vested interests, signs any ‘anti-people’ agreement.
He said that collecting additional amount on the visas’ application from the applicants is not acceptable and a condemnable act.
He has also asked the authorities concerned to take a legal review of the agreement and weigh the probabilities of cancelling this agreement.
He said if cancellation is not possible then a system should be devised after expiry of this agreement to ensure visa fees for Pakistanis are lessened to least possible limit.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2016.
Federal Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has expressed his deep reservations over alleged irregularities in the contract of Pakistan High Commission London with Gerry’s for processing visa applications of Pakistanis.
Chaudhry Nisar on Friday issued directives to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe the alleged irregularities regarding awarding of the contract in this respect which was given during the previous regime and present a report.
Moreover, he stressed that the interior ministry and the ministry of foreign affairs should ensure that no Pakistani ambassador or high commissioner, for the sake of his own vested interests, signs any ‘anti-people’ agreement.
He said that collecting additional amount on the visas’ application from the applicants is not acceptable and a condemnable act.
He has also asked the authorities concerned to take a legal review of the agreement and weigh the probabilities of cancelling this agreement.
He said if cancellation is not possible then a system should be devised after expiry of this agreement to ensure visa fees for Pakistanis are lessened to least possible limit.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2016.