To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations his Department has made to the Pakistani Government on ensuring that freedom of religion and belief commitments to education for religious minorities are upheld in that country.
Answered on
19 April 2018
The UK Government is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief. The UK raises human rights and the rights of minorities in Pakistan on a regular basis at the highest levels and we ensure our development assistance targets the poor, regardless of race, religion, gender, social background or nationality. The UK funded education programmes in Pakistan support the implementation of Pakistan’s 2006 reformed curriculum, which teaches religious tolerance and respect for diversity. Independent evaluations have confirmed this curriculum to be based on the values of democracy, pluralism and peace aimed at educating students to be able to think critically about these issues.