Pakistanis Top the List of Asylum Applicants
New figures from the UK government show that Pakistani citizens filed more asylum requests than any other nationality in 2024. The Home Office received around 40,000 asylum applications during the year. Out of these, more than 11,000 came from Pakistani nationals.
This marks a major increase. The number is five times higher than in 2022, according to The Telegraph. Because of this rise, Pakistan now sits at the top of a list of 175 countries whose citizens sought protection in the United Kingdom.
The surge has renewed debate over Britain’s immigration system. It has also raised questions about why so many people from Pakistan are turning to asylum channels.
Legal Visa Routes Used Before Claiming Asylum
The data shows a striking pattern. Most Pakistani applicants did not enter the UK illegally. Instead, they arrived on visit visas, work permits, or student visas, and later requested asylum.
This trend contrasts with the UK government’s focus on stopping small boat crossings in the English Channel. While those crossings remain politically sensitive, they do not explain the rise in applications from Pakistan.
Officials say this pattern highlights weaknesses in visa screening. Once inside the UK, people can apply for asylum, and the system struggles to filter genuine claims from opportunistic ones.
Strong Political Backlash
The sharp increase has triggered criticism from opposition politicians. UK Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the figures reflect a failure of government.
He argued that the misuse of the visa system exposes deep flaws in current immigration controls. Philp called for urgent steps to prevent abuse of legal entry routes. He also urged the government to tighten the rules for high-risk nationalities.
His comments underline rising political pressure on the Home Office. It already faces public frustration over asylum backlogs, hotel accommodation costs, and delays in processing claims.
Possible Reasons Behind the Rise in Pakistani Applications
The report did not detail individual motivations. However, broader conditions in Pakistan help explain the trend.
Pakistan has experienced economic turbulence in recent years. Inflation has remained high, jobs are scarce, and the value of the national currency has weakened. These problems have pushed many households into deeper financial stress.
Political tensions have also intensified. The period between 2022 and 2024 saw repeated protests, leadership disputes, and pressure on key institutions. In addition, some regions faced a renewed threat from militant groups. These factors created a sense of uncertainty that likely influenced migration decisions.
Experts note that not all asylum claims are identical. Still, the overall environment in Pakistan has encouraged more people to seek options abroad. For some, asylum has become a last attempt to secure stability.
A Changing Migration Landscape in the UK
The UK has seen rising asylum numbers since the pandemic. Applications reached a 20-year high in 2023, and the upward trend continued into 2024.
Although small boat arrivals dropped slightly due to new agreements with France, the system remains under strain. A notable share of asylum seekers now arrive through airports with valid visas. This trend receives less media coverage than boat crossings, but it has a significant impact on the system.
Analysts say this shift makes enforcement more complex. Border checks alone cannot address the issue. Instead, reforms must target visa approval processes, monitoring, and early detection of likely asylum claims.
What to Expect in 2025
The Home Office is expected to announce new measures in early 2025. These may involve tighter checks on certain visa categories and faster processing for weak claims.
Migration experts caution that technical fixes may not solve everything. As long as economic and political pressures persist in key countries, asylum numbers may stay high.
For now, the latest data places Pakistan at the center of the UK’s asylum debate and highlights the challenges facing Britain’s immigration system.
