‘Agent mafia’ unhappy at closure of backdoor visa services

LONDON: British Pakistanis are happy that they get smooth and professional visa services to Pakistan, but the agent mafia is unhappy because their corrupt practices have been stopped, Gerry’s Group Chairman Afzal Wali Mohammad has said.

In an interview with The News, Afzal Wali said that since getting contract four years ago to facilitate visas for British Pakistanis, more than 150,000 visas were facilitated with a good 98% service level   and not a single passport was lost or stolen and there has not been a single complaint from the community in regards to the service.

“British Pakistanis have taken a sign of relief and have admired the solution and services now being provided by Gerry’s. They have expressed their appreciation that they get smooth and professional visa services when traveling to Pakistan. But of course years of corrupt practices at the hands of the agent mafia is agitating as they are unhappy that their corruption has been halted,” said Chairman Gerry’s Group Afzal Wali Mohammad.

He said that the agent mafia is earlier minting money from the Pakistani community, and the same mafia has been spreading disinformation.  “Agent mafia is unhappy because it used to make money by arranging visas and exploiting community members using its influence and back door methods but our professional service leaves no room for any corruption and exploitation of the community.

Agents used to charge heavy prices and they were involved in cheating and corruption.  We are glad that our services to British Pakistanis and others  have been praised and confidence of the community has increased in our services. No wonder the agent mafia is against this service us and has been running negative campaigns,” he remarked.

Afzal Wali Muhammad said that his company has been successfully providing visa services to the UK, Ireland, most of the European countries Australia, Canada and the USA amongst many other foreign missions in Pakistan demonstrating high level of experience and integrity.  “We want to continue our services in the UK and we will endeavour to provide best services to the community. 

Our mission is to facilitate visitors to Pakistan and help Pakistan go forward. There are elements who want to discourage visits of overseas community to Pakistan, but we have a strong resolve to clean the menace and keep the travellers away from the corrupt elements”

He said that Gerry’s has been providing services to British Pakistanis from London, Hounslow, Bradford, Birmingham and Manchester. “We have made considerable investment in raising the infrastructure to facilitate this service, and we intend to invest more.”

Afzal Wali said that passport and Nadra services were originally promised to the Gerry’s, but that has not happened yet. “We hope that government will soon fulfil the promise made to the community and provide the same Nadra services in the same manner that the Pakistani community has demanded.