the minister also committed an additional £8 million
The UK has pledged an additional £8 million to support joint efforts with Pakistan to tackle illegal migration and crime.
The UK’s Minister for Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hamish Falconer, is in Islamabad, where he met Pakistani leaders to thank them for brokering a US-Iran peace deal.
In recent years, Pakistan and the UK have strengthened their joint efforts to curb illegal migration and crime.
Both countries signed a deal in 2022 under which foreign criminals and immigration offenders from the UK can be returned to Pakistan.
A statement said: “During his meetings with senior Pakistani leadership, the minister also committed an additional £8 million to support joint UK-Pakistan efforts to tackle crime and illegal migration.”
The funding will be used to strengthen border security and visa systems.
It will also provide specialist expertise to help Pakistani law enforcement agencies disrupt people-smuggling and human trafficking networks.
The package will additionally support the return of Pakistani nationals who have no legal right to remain in the UK.
Funding will also be directed towards community programmes in areas considered vulnerable to illegal migration.
The statement added: “This includes support for improving identity and information-sharing processes, strengthening law enforcement capability to investigate smuggling networks, and expanding community-based prevention programs that reduce vulnerability to exploitation.”
During his second official visit to Pakistan, Falconer is also expected to observe a live demonstration of joint law enforcement operations aimed at tackling illegal migration.
“Backed by UK support, this work sees Pakistani authorities intercept non-genuine visa holders at Pakistani airports, ensuring only eligible travellers and students travel to the UK.”
The minister is also due to meet Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and officials from the Higher Education Commission to discuss closer cooperation on preventing visa abuse.
Pakistan has long faced challenges in tackling human smuggling and irregular migration.
Every year, some Pakistanis attempt dangerous journeys to Europe, often using sea routes, in the hope of securing better economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
It was recently reported that up to 10,000 Pakistanis used UK student visas before later applying for asylum.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott raised concerns about the growing number of Pakistani nationals seeking political asylum in the UK.
She noted that Pakistanis are among the leading nationalities applying for asylum and said many cases appeared to stem from misinformation and exploitation by unauthorised intermediaries rather than genuine eligibility.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Dr Usman Anwar said illegal migration was damaging Pakistan’s reputation internationally, adding that several countries, including members of the European Union, had raised concerns with Islamabad over the issue.
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