To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 18 June (HL8402), how they have monitored the use of UK aid given to Pakistan in the last ten years; and what plans, if any, they have to link the provision of aid more closely to the protection of minority rights in the recipient country.
Answered on
4 July 2018
DFID’s approach in Pakistan includes ensuring that our development assistance targets poor women and men, regardless of race, religion, social background, or nationality. We have robust monitoring in place, including systems to track spend and monitor results and value for money, plus annual reviews and project completion reviews of all programmes. Our support contributes either directly or indirectly to the protection of minority rights, including by adopting a ‘do no harm’ approach. One of the four principles set out in the Partnership Principles Agreement that the UK has with Pakistan is a commitment to respect human rights. DFID and the FCO continue to raise the issue of human rights of minorities at the highest levels of Government, including in our annual Bilateral Assistance Talks, advocating greater tolerance and action against abuses when they occur.