LAHORE: Pakistan’s second premium lounge for the speedy processing of British visa applications was inaugurated at the Gerry’s centre opposite Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Sunday.
After several mishaps in the processing of Pakistani visa applications last year, the British High Commission is determined to improve customer services and speed up the application process this year, said Lin Homer, chief executive of the UK Border Agency.
“Last year we were re-hauling the application processing system in several countries. Given that we receive nearly 10 times more applications from Pakistan than anywhere else, Pakistani applicants were affected the most,” she said.
Homer said that under the new process, all non-settlement visa applications would be processed in five to 15 days. “In case of delays beyond the stipulated time, applicants will be informed through an SMS service,” she said.
Homer said that the new VIP lounge would provide first-class visa services for Pakistani applicants. The new service is appointment based and requires a fee of Rs3,000.
“The centre will provide quick and efficient personalised services in a private lounge,” she said, adding that all biometrics, documents as well as application fees would be processed on the spot.
This is Gerry’s second premium lounge in Pakistan. The first was inaugurated in Islamabad in April.
Homer said that the British High Commission had received over 340,000 applications from Pakistan and had been processing some 45 per day since the first lounge was opened.
She said the UK Border Agency was committed to improving relations with Pakistan. “We value our customers dearly and we hope that the new measures will help all applicants, not just the ones availing the VIP service,” she said.
Last year many Pakistani students faced severe problems in acquiring British visas in time to meet their course deadlines. The head of the UK Border Agency insisted that such delays would not happen again.
“We have made significant improvements to customer service over the last 12 months, with turnaround times now within our global target of 5-15 days for non-settlement applications,” Homer said.
On the occasion, Lin Homer also took a tour of the centre, thanking staff for their hard work, before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the occasion. Gerry’s Lahore head Col Hashmat Abbas and Imran Israr Khan helped organise and manage the event.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2010.
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