Minister takes up student visa delays with UK envoy

Tarar says panel finalised proposal to strengthen legal mechanisms

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday raised concerns over delays in the issuance of UK visas to Pakistani students during a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, who assured him that the matter would be addressed.

The meeting, held in Islamabad, discussed Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest, and measures to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the law minister conveyed the government's concern over delays in visa processing for Pakistani students, saying that hundreds of students were facing difficulties and that prolonged delays could result in the loss of an academic year.

Tarar stressed the need to remove obstacles faced by Pakistani students seeking higher education abroad and to facilitate them in completing their studies.

He informed the British high commissioner that, on the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, a committee headed by him was working to improve the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students pursuing education abroad.

The minister said that the committee had finalised its recommendations and that efforts were underway to further strengthen the legal and institutional mechanisms to address issues faced by students.

Jane Marriott assured the minister that the issue of visa delays for Pakistani students would be resolved.

The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen educational ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom and enhance institutional cooperation between the two countries.