Melinda Bohannon, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office\u2019s (FCDO) Director General for Humanitarian and Development, concluded her first official visit to Pakistan on Thursday, marking a decade of impactful UK-funded initiatives and reinforcing ties in critical sectors.
\nDuring her three-day visit, Bohannon celebrated 10 years of the UK\u2019s \u00a3155 million investment in Karandaaz, a programme that has supported over 1.1 million jobs\u2014more than half of which were for women\u2014and generated over PKR 230 billion in additional business income across Pakistan.
\nShe held discussions with Pakistan\u2019s Finance Minister on the country\u2019s IMF-supported economic reforms and ongoing UK technical assistance.
\nBohannon also acknowledged the significant milestone of launching Pakistan\u2019s first National Sex Offender Register, meeting the Anti-Rape Act Sub-Committee chaired by the Secretary of Law and Justice.
\nHighlighting the UK\u2019s commitment to climate action, she opened the final session of the British High Commission\u2019s Chevening \u2018Climate Connects\u2019 debate series, focusing on progress made at COP29. The series explored themes of green growth and urbanisation in Karachi and Lahore, respectively.
\nIn Haripur, Bohannon praised local teachers and health workers delivering education and family planning services, supported by UK-funded schools and mobile medical camps.
\nShe also visited a groundwater recharging project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where cost-effective, nature-based solutions are helping communities tackle climate challenges.
\nTo mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Bohannon met with young disabled women leaders advocating for inclusion and accessibility. Their efforts, supported by the British High Commission, include distributing disability cards, promoting accessible transportation, and lobbying for job quotas.
\nReflecting on her visit, Bohannon said, \u201cThe inspirational individuals I met, from teachers to entrepreneurs, are the heart of driving change in Pakistan. The UK remains committed to supporting Pakistan\u2019s development priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Melinda Bohannon, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office\u2019s (FCDO) Director General for Humanitarian and Development, concluded her first official visit to Pakistan on Thursday, marking a decade of impactful UK-funded initiatives and reinforcing ties in critical sectors. During her three-day visit, Bohannon celebrated 10 years of the UK\u2019s \u00a3155 million investment in Karandaaz, a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":447550,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-447546","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n