Michael Wade: British Pakistanis - the two-way street towards better integration

Michael Wade is the Chairman of Conservative Friends of Pakistan

With over two million immigrants settling in the UK over these past ten years, and an estimated 1.3 million people of Pakistani descent already British citizens,  the concerns of our indigenous population are often expressed with alarm as they make demands for a curtailment of further immigration into the UK.  Indeed, many British Pakistanis themselves express concern for the previous "open door" policy by the Labour Government. And so Government policy must be right in continuing to reduce the intake of immigrants into the UK as a part of the objective to enhance living standards & social harmony.

For centuries, Britain has accepted and welcomed immigrants from across the world; these citizens have enriched our society both economically and culturally – over the generations, diverse peoples have integrated within our communities and achieved their own aspirations.   But at a time of economic stress, combined with such large numbers of immigrants, we must work together in examining the current issues and seek solutions to barriers that might exist to prevent successful integration into British society.