Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Pakistan since the last election in that country; and what recent (a) military and (b) economic assistance has been offered to improve co-operation between the UK and Pakistan.

We have had regular discussions with the Government of Pakistan since the election in July 2018. This includes contact by the Foreign Secretary and other Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers. We maintain regular contact with the Government of Pakistan at all levels in Pakistan, the UK and international fora on a range of bilateral and multilateral issues. These include security cooperation; work on anti-corruption; and bilateral trade.

We maintain defence training exchanges and senior bilateral defence meetings with Pakistan’s Armed Forces. We help strengthen Pakistan institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law and advancing the rights of women and minorities. The British government also works with the Government of Pakistan on improving education, healthcare, infrastructure, gender equality, economic growth and jobs, and peace, justice and institutions, including through Department for International Development-supported projects and programmes.