More than 11,000 Pakistanis in the UK have taken advantage of flaws in the British visa system to seek asylum, British media has reported.
According to data reported by The Telegraph, out of 40,000 asylum applications submitted in 2024, more than 11,000 were from Pakistanis.
The report states that this number is five times higher than in 2022, and with 11,000 asylum applications, Pakistan ranks first among 175 countries. All applicants entered the UK legally on visit, work, or student visas before applying for asylum.
The UK’s Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, called the misuse of the border visa system a complete failure of the government and said that strict and decisive measures are needed to stop it.
UK announced a string of changes to the immigration system over the past week under which some migrants who are in the UK legally could have to wait up to 20 years before they can settle permanently, under government proposals.
The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain will be extended from five to 10 years, and will apply to the estimated 2.6 million who arrived since 2021.
The changes will not apply to people who had already obtained settlement.
