Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Acknowledged
As such, the UK Government should maintain dialogue with the Pakistani Government on the importance...
Recommendation
As such, the UK Government should maintain dialogue with the Pakistani Government on the importance of an open society, including the need for civic spaces and religious and media freedom. As part of this, the FCDO should increase support to Pakistan’s National Commission on the Status of Women and its National Commission on Human Rights. (Paragraph 25) Covid-19 and development in Pakistan
Government Response Summary
The government says it is in regular dialogue with Pakistan promoting an open society, including religious and media freedom. They engage regularly with Pakistan’s National Commission on the Status of Women and Pakistan’s National Commission on Human Rights and will continue to advocate for greater operational independence and better resourcing of these Commissions.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Response: The UK Government is in regular dialogue with the Government of Pakistan, promoting the value of an open society, the need for civic spaces, and the importance of religious and media freedom. Discrimination against minorities, including in particular Christians, Ahmadi Muslims and Hindus, is present in education, civic spaces and the public sector. HMG regularly engages the Pakistan’s National Commission on the Status of Women and Pakistan’s National Commission on Human Rights. The Minister of State for South Asia has a regular dialogue on a broad range of human rights with the Government of Pakistan. In addition, we also engage regularly with the provincial Commissions on the Status of Women in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We will continue to advocate for greater operational independence and better resourcing of these Commissions.