LONDON, Dec. 11 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

* UK development Minister visits Pakistanto re-enforcejoint work on migrationandsustainablegrowthefforts. * Newprojects toboost growth and support UK education sector,as trade with Pakistan passes £5 billion, with 200 British companies now operating in Pakistan. * Partnership to deliver mutual benefits for UK and Pakistan through climate development investments.

Combatting people smuggling was the focus of Development Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman's visit to Pakistan this week.

Duringathree-day visit to Pakistan, which included high-level meetings focused on joint security, migration,sustainablegrowth priorities, the Minister sawhowUKtraining ishelping immigration officialsfrom both countriestobetter combat human trafficking. This trainingis delivered as part of a wider UK funded programme to tackle illegal migration and serious organised crime from Pakistanthat has a direct impact in the UK, protecting communities and keeping our streets safe.

The project, which is being delivered by Home Office International Operations, isdesigned to identify safeguarding opportunities and support early intervention of criminals at Pakistan's bordersto disrupt journeys and detect abuse. By givingfront line officersexpertisein spotting potentially vulnerable people and illegal activity early,this enables them to protect innocent victims and apprehendthose trying to escape justice by making their way to other countries, including the UK. Shealso heard from the enforcement officersabout UKprovidedstate of the artsecurity scanners,helpingto disrupt the movement of illegal and dangerousitemsacross theregion.

Baroness Chapmanalsoused the visit to announce anew partnership with Pakistan that will see British expertise used to help boost development projects in Pakistan, and it comes as part of an ongoing effort by the Government to go from development donor to investor, supporting countries overseas to use their own resources to maximum effect, while boosting growth at home in the UK.

The recent devastating floods in Pakistan demonstrated the dangerous effects of climate change, destroying homes, damaging the economy and driving the displacement of communities.The UK is Pakistan's thirdlargesttrading partner, sothis has a direct effect on the British economy.

Minister for Development, Baroness Chapman, said: 

The UKandPakistanare working together to stop criminals in their tracks, ensuring they face justice for their actions, rather than makingtheir way to our shores.

For too longexploitingborders has been used by those flouting the law to avoid prosecution. Equipped with UK trainingand intel sharing, Pakistani border officials can now better spot and detain people at the border, as part of a region-wide effort to crack down on human trafficking and illegal activity.

Pakistan is also a country suffering the devastating consequences of climate change, with extreme flooding putting lives at risk, stifling economic growth, and damaging key infrastructure. British expertise will help Pakistan strengthen its adaptation to climate change, its resilience to extreme weather events, and the speed of its response and recovery when crises occur.

With over 1.6 million British people of Pakistani descent, our partnership is based on a genuine mutual fondness and respect. Together we're delivering prosperity to both our countries, strengthening ties on educationandtrade,while fighting the root causes of illegal migration and climate change.

TheGovernmentremains committed toutilising every tool at our disposal to meet the challenge ofillegalmigration as part of the Prime Minister's Plan for Change.Discussions with Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif,coveredjointeffortsin this space, as well as collaboration to boost growth and tackle climate change.

The new partnership is designed to utilise the UK's considerable development experience totackle the root causes of climate change, and help Pakistan invest wisely in its own climate resilience. This in turn provides the conditions needed to support trade with the UK, address the drivers of illegal migration, while supportingvulnerable communities at theforefrontof the climate change threat.

During thevisit,Baroness Chapman launchedthe next phase of an education agreement with Pakistan. The agreement is expected to deliver greater investment in the British education sector, promoting UK university courses to Pakistani students, giving them the chance to build skills at a British university, without leaving Pakistan.

Background:

* The training the Minister saw forms part of the extensive capacity building work between Pakistani and UK law enforcement authorities, central to sharing experiences of detecting harm, safeguarding measures and modality of irregular migration to the UK. This includes strengthened data sharing, and targeted support to improve cooperation on cross border cases. This work will lead to a clear system for criminal background checks being established and forms part of system improvements to align border security measures which disrupt transnational crime. * Pakistan's sex-offenders register, supported by the UK, not only improvescommunity protection in Pakistan, but also in the UK by ensuring that these offenders are unable to travel. * Tackling illegal migration is a priority for this Government and a key part of the Prime Minister's Plan for Change. The FCDO is using every tool at its disposal to meet this challengein source and transit countries before the borders of Europe, to protect the vulnerable and stop criminal gangs who risk lives for their own profit. Working in partnership with countries like Pakistan is the most effective way to combat this shared challenge, and the transnational nature of the threatrequiresa whole of system approach to addressing these threats together. * In addition to disrupting organised immigration crime networks throughthe UK Government's Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime, the FCDO is working with source and transit countries to deter would-be migrants from making a dangerous journey in the first place, and with the Home Office tofacilitatethe return of people who have no right to be here to their countries of origin, including criminals and failed asylum seekers.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.