Says agents dupe 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
The British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Jane Marriott, warned on Saturday against agents deceiving asylum seekers with false assurances of UK settlement and financial gain, stressing that genuine applicants must only submit their applications through official online systems.
Speaking to 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 misleading assurances of asylum and settlement opportunities in exchange for money.
Read also: Pakistanis topped the list of asylum seekers in the UK in 2024
She also expressed concern over the increasing number of Pakistani nationals applying for political asylum in the UK, noting that nationals are currently among the top nationalities in such applications.
Jane lamented that many of these cases involved misinformation and exploitation by unauthorized intermediaries rather than genuine entitlement.
The High Commissioner stressed that genuine applicants should only rely on official and legal online systems for visa and asylum-related processes, rather than relying on agents operating 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.
Read more: Britain tightens the asylum system
Jane also emphasized the importance of awareness, stating that efforts are being strengthened to educate the public about safe and legal migration routes and to discourage dependence on illegal facilitators.
In response to a query, she further stated that the UK has been offering fully funded scholarship programs for a long time.
She noted that genuine applicants from Pakistan apply through official channels, pursue higher education in the UK and then 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 those involved in facilitating illegal migration and exploitation of vulnerable people through fraudulent promises and stressed that such activities were dealt with strictly under the law.
