The new arrangement is expected to especially benefit Pakistani nationals residing in remote areas across the UK.
LONDON: The Pakistan High Commission in London has announced that it has awarded a contract to Gerry’s Visa Services Ltd to provide additional consular facilitation services across the United Kingdom, in a move aimed at improving convenience for the British Pakistani diaspora.
According to a statement issued by the High Commission, the decision—approved by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad—was made through a fully transparent competitive bidding process conducted in line with Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.
It added that only UK-registered companies were eligible to participate, and the selection process involved detailed due diligence and full regulatory compliance, which was completed over a period of four months.
The new arrangement is expected to particularly benefit Pakistani nationals living in remote areas of the UK, who previously faced difficulties and higher travel costs in reaching the High Commission in London or its consulates.
The statement further said the initiative would help save applicants both time and transportation expenses, as Gerry’s International will also extend services to weekends, offering greater flexibility. It confirmed that regular consular operations will continue without interruption at the High Commission in London and consulates in Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, and Glasgow.
It clarified that the newly established facilitation centres will have a limited role, handling only the processing and data entry of passport applications, visa applications, NADRA applications, and document collection for attestation. Services such as Powers of Attorney, land-related matters, and other sensitive functions will remain under the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Commission and consulates.
All final decisions on applications will continue to rest with the Government of Pakistan and relevant authorities, including NADRA, IMPASS, MOFA, the Ministry of Interior, and Pakistani missions abroad.
Officials said the initiative is designed to improve access to consular services while ensuring strong oversight, transparency, and security.
Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Muhammad Faisal, said the agreement aims to prioritise overseas Pakistanis by eliminating unauthorised and fraudulent visa and NADRA facilitation centres operating across the UK.
Under the arrangement, Gerry’s Visa Services Ltd will serve as the sole authorised service provider nationwide, offering services including visa and passport processing, NADRA-related documentation, and attestation facilities.
Dr Faisal described the partnership as a major step toward making consular services “faster, safer, and more convenient,” particularly for the estimated two million-strong Pakistani community in the UK.
Afzal Wali Muhammad, Chairman of Gerry’s Visa Services, said the company was honoured to be selected as the exclusive partner for the initiative, pledging to provide transparent and high-quality services across the country.
He added that the first facilitation centre is scheduled to open in May 2026, with a phased rollout planned across major regions of the United Kingdom. Further details on locations, services, and appointment systems will be announced in the coming weeks.
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