ChatDD Blog

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani

Finally a bold step by Pakistani government upon visa mishaps for Paksitani sutdents.
According to Dawn News “Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged the British government to reconsider their visa policy for Pakistani nationals, particularly for students and businessmen, which is causing serious inconvenience to visa applicants. He also called for early shifting of the visa office from Abu Dhabi back to Pakistan for quicker processing of visa cases and refunding visa fees to applicants whose visas have been rejected,’ a statement by the prime minister’s office said.”
President Zardari, during his meeting with the British ministers, also took up the matter.

‘Holding up of passports for a long time without any assurance when the backlog would be cleared meant applicants could not visit any other country in the meantime,’ President Zardari was quoted by his spokesman Farhatullah Babar as saying. Mr Babar said the president emphasised that the issue should be addressed urgently.
Prime Minister Gilani urged Britain to quickly address issues pertaining to consular affairs and denial of visas to dependents of Pakistani diplomats and officials posted in UK.

A Pakistani diplomat, talking to Dawn, said Home Secretary Johnson had agreed to review the visa procedure.