The Director General of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Dr Usman Anwar, has revealed that around 10,000 Pakistanis travelled to the United Kingdom on student visas and later applied for political asylum. He shared this information during a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior on June 9, 2026.
The committee discussed issues like illegal immigration, passport policies, and reforms. Dr Anwar said such misuse of visas is damaging Pakistan’s image abroad. Several countries, including the UK and EU nations, have raised concerns with Islamabad about this trend. The UK has noted Pakistan as one of the top countries for asylum claims, with many people entering legally but then seeking to stay permanently.
Officials highlighted other problems too. Around 580 Pakistanis went to Belarus and did not return, while 7,000 visited Azerbaijan on visit visas and overstayed. A new human trafficking route via Malaysia and Uzbekistan has also emerged. In 2025, Pakistani authorities offloaded nearly 40,000 people trying to travel without proper documents.
This situation comes after the British High Commissioner expressed worries about rising Pakistani asylum claims. Many cases involve false promises by illegal agents and middlemen. The FIA is working hard to stop human smuggling and illegal migration. The government says illegal emigration has dropped by 47% recently, according to reports from Europe and the US.
Experts warn that such actions hurt genuine students and Pakistan’s international reputation. Authorities are strengthening checks and awareness campaigns to prevent misuse of visas. The focus remains on legal channels for education and work while cracking down on fraud.
