By Uzma Sahar 
Each year, between 13,000 to 15,000 Pakistani students travel to the United Kingdom—not just for education but with the long-term goal of permanent settlement, a Foreign Office (FO) official revealed during a Senate meeting held on Friday.
The disclosure came during a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada. The FO representative highlighted a key trend: many students opt to stay in the UK even after completing their degrees, often entering the British workforce on minimum wage to fulfill residency requirements.
“Most students transition directly into the job market after their studies, rarely returning to Pakistan,” the official stated.
The official also cited language barriers—especially limited English proficiency—as a persistent challenge for many Pakistani migrants, which impacts job opportunities and social integration.
Currently, around 1.8 million Pakistani nationals reside in the UK, forming one of the country’s most prominent diaspora communities.
The trend is unfolding amid notable policy shifts. The UK Home Office recently rolled out e-visas for Pakistani nationals, including students and workers, under a broader modernization of immigration protocols. This follows the UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue Mechanism Agreement, which also led to the creation of the UK-Pakistan Business Advisory Council—an initiative to enhance bilateral economic ties.
Simultaneously, the UK removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, reopening the door for Pakistani airlines to apply for flight routes into Britain.
However, not all developments are positive. British officials in May hinted at potential visa restrictions on students from countries with high asylum-seeking rates, including Pakistan, in an effort to control net migration. These measures are gaining traction following political pressure on the UK’s Labour government due to public concerns over immigration levels.