10,000 Pakistani Students Applied for Asylum in UK After Entering on Student Visas, Parliamentary Panel Told
Islamabad: A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior has been informed that around 10,000 Pakistani students who travelled to the United Kingdom on student visas later applied for asylum after arrival.
The revelation was made during a detailed briefing on illegal immigration, passport policy, and proposed reforms in criminal laws in a meeting of the committee chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz.
During the session, FIA Director General Dr. Osman Anwar said that illegal migration is damaging Pakistan’s international reputation, adding that several countries, including European Union member states, have raised concerns with Pakistan over the issue.
He stated that 580 Pakistani nationals travelled to Belarus but did not return, while 10,000 individuals who went to the UK on student visas subsequently applied for political asylum.
The FIA chief further informed the committee that new human trafficking routes have emerged via Malaysia and Uzbekistan. He said that in 2025, a total of 39,786 individuals attempting to travel abroad without valid documentation were offloaded, while more than 3,000 were stopped from travelling based on watchlists and Interpol alerts.
He added that 7,000 Pakistanis travelled to Azerbaijan on visit visas this year and did not return, while 175 detained Pakistani nationals were repatriated from Libya. He also noted a 75 percent decline in organized begging cases and a 31 percent reduction in the use of fake documents.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told the committee that illegal migration from Pakistan has decreased by 47 percent, a trend also acknowledged by Europe and the United States.
He added that further facilitation measures will be introduced in the coming days, including a new policy regarding lost passports. He said repeated loss of passports would be treated as suspicious and thoroughly investigated.
During the meeting, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar briefed members on proposed reforms in criminal laws, stating that detailed deliberations would be held after the budget session.
He said that while laws dating back decades are not necessarily outdated, reforms are required in light of modern technology and evolving needs. He noted that major amendments had not been made since 1971 and 1991, and around 55 amendments to the CrPC are being proposed after three years of work.
The minister added that at least four days would be required for detailed discussion of the proposed changes. He said many government services, including FIR registration, have already been digitized, and legal experts were involved in preparing the reform package.
He further stated that the reforms aim to improve the judicial system, noting that while existing laws provide facilities for accused persons, similar support for complainants is lacking. The proposed bill, he added, will be presented to the committee for legislation after comprehensive review.
