Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they intend to have with the Pakistan Public Services Commissions about ways in which to support the training and professional development of workers from religious minority backgrounds; and what plans they have to increase aid funding to be used for training teachers in Pakistan to promote freedom of religion or belief.

We have already funded teacher training modules on equity and inclusion delivered to nearly 100,000 teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. UK aid prioritises support for the poorest and most excluded people and communities in Pakistan regardless of race, religion, social background or nationality. DFID Pakistan is currently developing new education programmes and as part of this process we will actively consider what we can do to benefit these groups.