Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik currently on an official visit to the UK held meetings with British Minister for Immigration Damian Green and Minister for Counter Terrorism Baroness Neville Jones and discussed issues relating to illegal immigration, Pakistani students and forced marriages.
In meeting with Green issues pertaining to illegal immigration, problems of Pakistani students in relations to the bogus colleges in the UK as well as sham and forced marriages came under discussion. The British Immigration Minister appreciated Pakistan Government's policy of zero tolerance towards illegal immigration of its citizen, which was announced by Malik recently.
Both sides agreed to continue co-operation in the context of MoU on managed migration, related to repatriation of illegal Pakistani migrants. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the co-operation within the framework of the MoU. Malik informed that the Government of Pakistan has taken robust measures to check illegal migration of Pakistani nationals to other countries and called for co-operation required on the part of European countries for making these efforts successful.
Regarding problems of Pakistani students vis-a-vis bogus colleges, Green assured that appropriate measures are being taken to address the issue and that in terms of immediate relief a window of opportunity was available to the victims to secure admission in a bonafide college within a specified time frame. The British Minister for Counter Terrorism Baroness Neville - Jones hosted a luncheon in honour of the Interior Minister. During their meeting both sides reiterated their commitment to continue co-operation between Pakistan and the UK for countering terrorism and also in the sphere of aviation security.