§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will open the visa section in Islamabad in the near future. [HL6116]
§ Baroness Amos:After a brief closure for security reasons the visa section in Islamabad reopened on 22 May 2002. Although the service is a restricted one, its scope has been steadily increased since 22 May and further enhancements are planned when circumstances, particularly the security situation, allows.
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether all visa applications to the visa section in Islamabad could be received via Federal Express courier service, as is done for the American embassy. [HL6117]
§ Baroness Amos:For the last two years certain categories of applicant (mainly frequent travellers) have been able to send applications through Gerry's Fedex (a local joint venture with Federal Express). Since 22 May 2002, all applications have been handled through Gerry's Fedex.
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many ethnic minority visa section employees of Pakistani origin are based in Islamabad. [H L6118]
§ Baroness Amos:At present there are two UK-based staff of Pakistani ethnic origin and 39 locally engaged Pakistani staff.
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will recruit temporary staff of Pakistani origin to work in the visa section in Islamabad, in light of the threats to white, indigenous staff members. [HL6119]
§ Baroness Amos:All staff at the High Commission in Islamabad face the same level of threat irrespective of their ethnic origin and are owed the same duty of care. However, it has been possible to improve gradually visa services in Pakistan. The aim is to enhance further the Pakistan visa service in the coming months to the maximum extent that the prevailing security situation permits.
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Since the restriction in services, how many visa applications have been (a) processed and (b) approved in Islamabad. [HL6120]
§ Baroness Amos:Between 22 May and 25 October 2002, 25,429 non-settlement applications have been processed. Of these, 19,438 have been approved.
Between 18 September 2002 (when the settlement service was resumed) and 15 October, 1,566 settlement applications were considered and of these 1.067 were approved.