Pak envoy to UK ‘will reach out to all Pakistanis’

LONDON: Pakistan’s new High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Syed Ibne Abbas has said that he will make sure to reach out and connect to the Pakistani community across the UK as a matter of top priority.
Speaking to The News in an exclusive interview, Abbas, who took charge two weeks ago here, said that he would facilitate the community by opening consular section once a month on Saturday so that students and working population could be accommodated. He said he would try his best to see if downward revision of the visa application processing fee is possible. Syed Abbas said that he greatly valued over 1.3 million strong Pakistani diaspora in Britain and would make sure that every Pakistani who visits High Commission or its consulates was treated with respect and dignity.
“We are extending our building space in London, and in the new building facilities for the disabled people would be ensured. Soon a Play Area for children of the visiting families would be created”.
Pakistan’s envoy to the UK said that the diaspora would be served equally as he does not believe in favouritism. “I will try my best to unite the diaspora, it doesn’t matter what political, social or religious affiliation they have. They are all Pakistanis, they are patriots and for us they are all equal. We are proud of our strong diaspora and we will try to capitalize on this strength by bringing them together on the same platform”, he vowed.
The high commissioner said that consular services in Pakistan High Commission and its four Consulates would be improved to facilitate the community. He announced that a youth convention at Pakistan High Commission would be held to engage the youth and to bring them into the British mainstream.
“It would be our priority to endeavour for and facilitate the integration of the diaspora into the British mainstream society,” he stated.Syed Abbas appreciated Malala Yousufzai and termed her winning the Nobel Peace Prize an historic event and a matter of prestige for Pakistan. Abbas was by Malala’s side when she made speech in Birmingham accepting the Nobel Prize.
He said that Pakistan and the UK enjoyed good relations but further efforts would be made to “strengthen the relations between Pakistan and the UK”.“Trade promotion will be our priority as instructed by the prime minister of Pakistan. Success stories of British Pakistanis will be celebrated and thus perception of the country will be improved. Pakistanis have made a huge mark on the British public life; they deserve recognition and appreciation. We will engage them further to increase their bond with Pakistan so that they emerge as the ambassadors of Pakistan”.
Syed Abbas said that Pakistan had suffered a lot due to terrorism and had done a lot in fight against it; now it was the turn of the world to do more.