Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the APPG for Pakistani Minorities Inquiry Report, published on 25 November 2021, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of recommendation 6 of that report on the design of aid programmes.

The UK Government welcomes the publication of the All Party Parliamentary Group's report. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia, spoke at the launch event. The UK condemns the forced marriage and forced conversion of women and girls in Pakistan. The FCDO funds programmes that with work with some of the poorest and most marginalised to improve access to services, civic participation and rights awareness. The Aawaz II programme operates in 22 districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These districts were selected using a Vulnerability Index based on latest data, considering the needs of and risks facing vulnerable groups. Local forums established under the programme in all 22 districts include representation of women and girls, religious minorities, transgender, and persons with disabilities. The UK Government has also supported the Government of Pakistan in setting up eight child courts to provide child-sensitive justice to children who come in contact with the law, including victims of child abuse, trafficking and child marriage.