ISLAMABAD, March 4: The United Kingdom will restore full visa service for Pakistanis from May 1. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, speaking at a briefing on Thursday , said the visa restrictions had been imposed due to security reasons and terror threats to British interests.

He admitted that the restrictions caused "aggravation" to the people. He said that with the lifting of the restrictions, Britain was anticipating around 200,000 applications a year from Pakistan, making it the UK's biggest visa operation.

Mr Straw said around 800,000 British citizens of Pakistani origin were making important contribution to the country's development and would benefit from it. -APP