Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what strategy they have, if any, for promoting freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan; and what discussions they have held with the government of Pakistan in pursuing any such strategy.

Pakistan is an FCDO human rights priority country and protecting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, the Minister for South Asia and Minister for Human Rights, last raised the human rights situation on 14 October, in his meeting with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada. The UK has supported projects in Pakistan to promote greater tolerance and religious freedom. Our Aawaz II Programme works with communities to promote the rights of members of religious minorities.