Says agents deceive asylum seekers with UK settlement promises, expresses concern over rising Pakistani asylum claims
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott. Photo : Facebook/UK in Pakistan
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott on Saturday cautioned against agents deceiving asylum seekers with false assurances of United Kingdom settlement and financial gain, stressing that genuine applicants must submit their applications only through official online systems.
While speaking with a local media outlet, Jane highlighted the tactics used by illegal agents who mislead people with false promises of migration to the UK.
She explained that these agents often exploited vulnerable individuals by offering deceptive assurances of asylum and settlement opportunities in exchange for money.
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She further expressed concern over the rising number of Pakistani nationals applying for political asylum in the UK, noting that nationals currently feature among the top nationalities in such applications.
Jane regretted that many of these cases were linked to misinformation and exploitation by unauthorised intermediaries rather than genuine eligibility.
The high commissioner stressed that genuine applicants should rely only on official and legal online systems for visa and asylum-related processes, rather than trusting agents who operate outside the law.
She warned that such fraudulent practices not only result in financial loss but can also seriously damage applicants’ chances of future legal travel.
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Jane also emphasised the importance of awareness, stating that efforts are being strengthened to educate the public about safe and legal migration routes and to discourage reliance on illegal facilitators.
Responding to a query, she further stated that the UK has, for a considerable period, been offering fully funded scholarship programmes.
She noted that genuine applicants from Pakistan apply through official channels, pursue higher education in the UK, and subsequently return to Pakistan, where they contribute to national development and serve in various professional capacities.
Jane further added that the UK maintained strict laws and regulations against individuals involved in facilitating illegal migration and exploiting vulnerable people through fraudulent promises and stressed that such activities were dealt with firmly under the law.
