British Minister of State Stephen Doughty has announced an additional £300,000 grant for transnational education initiatives in Pakistan, saying the UK wants to significantly expand educational partnerships between British and Pakistani institutions. Speaking to He said Pakistan and the UK had deep historical and people-to-people ties, along with important trade and commercial links, while the two countries also worked closely on security and foreign policy priorities.
On education, Doughty said the UK was "incredibly proud" of its education system and recognised the value placed on British education in Pakistan. He welcomed existing collaborations between UK institutions, including Cardiff Metropolitan University, and Pakistani institutions, saying the two sides had an ambition to take such cooperation much further. "We want to see up to 100 UK universities working with institutions across Pakistan, equipping young people with skills and opportunities for the future," he said.
Doughty said such cooperation would benefit both Pakistan and the UK, while creating opportunities for research collaboration. He said he had announced an additional £300,000 in grants for the transnational education work being carried out between the two countries. The British minister stressed the importance of students gaining international educational experience and learning from different cultures, countries and educational systems.
"In my own experience, and having studied internationally myself, the very best learning comes when it's on a global scale," he said. He said educational and research cooperation could also help both countries respond to major global challenges, including artificial intelligence, climate change, energy transition, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Turning to Afghanistan, Doughty said the issue of education was also central to the UK's concerns about the country, particularly the denial of education to Afghan women and girls.
He said Britain did not have diplomatic relations with the Taliban regime and expressed concern over recent terrorist attacks faced by Pakistan. "We do not have diplomatic relations with the Taliban regime," Doughty said, adding that Britain was "deeply shocked and appalled" by the recent attacks on Pakistan from terrorist groups. "It's crucial that Afghanistan is peaceful, is stable," he said.
Doughty said the UK was particularly concerned about women and girls in Afghanistan being denied basic education. "We urge, of course, the regime there to open up education," he said. He warned that denying education to half of Afghanistan's population would deprive women and girls of opportunities while also damaging the country's future prospects.
He pointed to the Afghan health sector, saying Afghan women had played a crucial role in the past but were now being denied the opportunity to contribute. "I very much hope for a different future for Afghanistan," he said. Asked whether the international community could push the Taliban to change their policy, Doughty said ultimately the Taliban authorities themselves had to take the necessary steps.
He said the UK supported various international organisations through its aid and development programmes and worked with NGOs and other partners. "We all want to see a peaceful, stable, and secure future for Afghanistan and its people," he said.