Tag: Pakistan

29th November 2018

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by Sophie Lott

Former case worker in the Forced Marriage Unit

Sophie Lott: how the Forced Marriage Unit saves lives

I have spent 7 years working in the joint Home Office and Foreign Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU). As I walk into work, anticipating the type of calls I will handle today still brings a mixture of apprehension but also promise – knowing the unit, every day, has the potential to save lives. During my […]

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8th March 2017 London, UK

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by Boris Johnson

Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs

The world would be a better place if all girls went to school

I am always dubious about so-called silver bullets that allegedly solve a host of problems. “Life can’t be that simple,” I think. “Surely there must be a catch?” But there is one step that would improve countless lives — and make the world an infinitely better place — if only every government summoned the will […]

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23rd December 2016 London, UK

Jon Ryan

Consul, Islamabad

Hogmanay 2017 from Islamabad!

As we look forward to 2017 and celebrating the Scottish holiday of Hogmanay, I’m thinking about the special link between Scotland and Pakistan. The British High Commission in Islamabad has an active Scottish contingent, who support the relationship between Pakistan and the whole of the UK, including Scotland, on issues ranging from economic development to […]

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21st June 2016 Islamabad, Pakistan

M Asif Iqbal

Chevening Officer

How to survive Ramazan

If you are living in the Northern hemisphere, and observing traditional fasting, then this year’s Ramazan is particularly difficult. The difference between the Islamic calendar and the Gregorian calendar means that every year it shifts nine or ten days, and for those fasting, this year it falls slap bang in the middle of the longest […]

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8th December 2015 Islamabad, Pakistan

Neelam Farooq, British High Commission Consular Assistance team on Forced Marriages

by Neelam Farooq

Senior Consular Officer at British High Commission, Consular Assistance team on Forced Marriages

Forced Marriage – You have the right to choose

More than one third of all Forced Marriage cases reported to the Forced Marriage Unit in London are linked to Pakistan. This is four times more than any other country in the world. Last year, 82 cases of Forced Marriage were reported to my Consular Assistance team in Islamabad only. This year, we have offered […]

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4th August 2014 Islamabad, Pakistan

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by stevenfrancis

Navy & Air Advisor, British High Commission, Pakistan

WW1 Centenary – Pakistan’s Right to Commemorate

This is my first blog for the High Commission and a quick look at the archives tells me that it’s the first time in a long time that a member of the Defence Team has rolled up his sleeves and ‘put fingers to keyboard’. So when Alison Blake, our Deputy High Commissioner, asked me to […]

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1st July 2014 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Zeitgeist and Poltergeists

It’s been a difficult month. Like many other Council goers I’ve been trying to find enough time for the essential trinity of work, family and football. This is a struggle at the best of times but I feel that however many late-night shifts I’ve put in trying to make time for my council workload, my […]

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11th May 2014 Islamabad, Pakistan

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by Philip Barton

British High Commissioner to Pakistan

Pakistan – A Prime Minister in London

A year ago today, Pakistan went to the polls to elect a new Government.  Some 50 million Pakistanis turned out to vote.  They made a statement about the future they want for their country – a future based on democracy and accountability through the ballot box.  We went on to see the first ever full […]

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30th September 2013 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Sleepwalking, Stress and Civil Society

Council sessions are bad for your health. So bad, in fact, that I’m thinking of inviting colleagues from the World Health Organisation along to the next session to see if they agree with me that all delegates should be issued with a health warning so that they can take suitable precautions at the outset. The […]

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