Tag Archives: HM Government

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The London Family Planning Summit was co-hosted today by Priti Patel, the Secretary of State for International Development, Melinda Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Natalia Kanem, UN Population Fund. The Summit focused on practical measures to reduce costs and increase availability for the millions of women who want contraception, but can’t afford or get hold of it.

At today’s Family Planning Summit, Ms Patel set out an increased support package – boosting and extending the UK contribution until 2022 – to provide voluntary, modern family planning to women in the developing countries across Africa and Asia.

In her key note speech at the London Summit, Ms Patel highlighted the UK’s global leadership in responding to the urgent need for voluntary family planning:

She said

It’s truly astonishing that in today’s world there are still 214 million women around the world who do not want to get pregnant, but who are not currently using modern methods of family planning. This new UK aid support will provide 20 million women with voluntary contraception, change the lives of 6 million women by allowing them to avoid unintended pregnancies and prevent the trauma of 75,000 still births.

But this isn’t a job for the UK alone and that’s why at this global Summit governments from around the world have come together to make commitments on family planning to address the long term need and unsustainable population growth.

The provincial governments of Pakistan also attended the London Summit. Pakistan pledged to reach 6.7 million additional people, (3.4 million already reported and an additional 3.3 million to be added) achieving a contraceptive prevalence trate of 50 % by 2020. This commitment will be achieved through additional resources, raising the per capita expenditure on FP to $2.50, and a programmatic refocus to address the information and service needs of men and young people and introducing safe and long acting reversible methods through task sharing.

A satellite event was also held at Islamabad, Marriot Hotel ahead of the Summit. The Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarrar; DFID Deputy Head Judith Herbertson; Country Representative UNFPA Hassan Mohtashami; and country director Population Council Dr Zeba Sathar all attended.

While speaking at the event, DFID deputy head Judith Herbertson said,

The Government is particularly emphasising the importance of the census for population planning and economic management; and we applaud the completion of the census and the associated ambition. If by 2020 Pakistan’s target of 50% contraceptive use is reached, it will be a huge stride forward for individuals, families and the country.

And will set Pakistan on the road to achieving reproductive health services for all by 2030 as set out in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Today there are 214 million women around the world, who despite not wanting to get pregnant, aren’t using modern contraception. Progress has been made globally to reach more women with family planning services, but more needs to be done. Voluntary family planning saves lives by enabling women to plan, and have fewer, pregnancies – reducing their risk of death through unsafe childbirth. This risk is very high in the world’s poorest countries, especially for adolescents.

The UK’s total package of support until 2022 will every year:

• help save the lives of over 6,000 women by preventing maternal deaths – that’s one woman every 90 minutes;
• support 20 million women to receive voluntary contraceptives through family planning services;
• help avert 6 million unintended pregnancies; and
• help prevent the trauma of 75,000 stillbirths and nearly 44,000 new-born deaths.

The UK put family planning on the international agenda with the inaugural 2012 Family Planning Summit where a goal was established to help 120 million additional women and girls use modern, voluntary family planning by 2020. Britain is the second largest bilateral donor of family planning in the world. Since the 2012 Summit, the UK has helped nearly 8.5 million additional women to access modern methods of contraception.

Notes to editors

1. Across Pakistan, the UK is working closely with federal and provincial governments and partners on ambitious plans which will benefit millions of children and improve the standard of their education.
2. Pakistan is now one of the UK’s largest recipients of development investment.
3. As well as tackling the education emergency, other priorities for the UK in Pakistan include preventing thousands of women dying in childbirth by funding skilled midwives, nurses, or doctors; providing job skills training to tens of thousands of the poorest people; and giving women in deprived households small monthly cash grants to purchase essentials, such as food and medicine.
4. UK development investment is dependent on continuing to secure value for money and results.

More Information:

DFID – the Department for International Development

• In Pakistan, contact the DFID-Pakistan media team on + 92 (0) 51 201 2000.
• Get free-to-use photos, videos and features online: www.gov.uk/dfid
• For breaking news, follow us on Twitter: @DFID_Press

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The CMA has found that Origin’s proposed acquisition of Bunn could reduce competition to supply fertilisers in Scotland.

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An iftar reception for Chevening Alumni was hosted by the Acting British High Commissioner Mr Richard Crowder at his residence on 22nd June 2017.

The reception was attended by Chevening scholars, Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme fellows, members of the elected Chevening Alumni Association of Pakistan as well as senior officials from the British High Commission.

The reception celebrated the achievements of the Chevening Alumni in the first half of 2017 as well as giving an opportunity for networking between members of the British High Commission and the Chevening Alumni.

Speaking at the iftar reception, Acting British High Commissioner, Mr Richard Crowder, said:

I am pleased to host this iftar reception which celebrates the achievements of the Chevening Alumni in 2017. This year is historic as it marks the 70th Anniversary of UK-Pakistan relations.

Our Chevening programme and the valuable work of our alumni is an integral part of these celebrations. Earlier this year, our Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme fellows trained over 80 journalists across Pakistan.

Chevening alumni go on in their professional careers to build a more prosperous, stable Pakistan. We look forward to staying in touch with them in the future.

The British High Commission will continue to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of UK-Pakistan relations with a series of events and activities all through the end of 2017. The application window for the Chevening one year master’s scholarship will open in early August.

Contact

Notes to editors

For updates on the British High Commission’s 70th Anniversary of UK – Pakistan relations and for more information on the Chevening Programme, please follow our social media channels:

Chevening Scholarships are the UK Government’s global scholarship programme. The scholarships support study at UK universities – mostly one year master’s degrees – for individuals with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers.

Chevening began in 1983 and has developed into a prestigious international awards scheme. Chevening Scholars come from over 160 countries and territories worldwide (excluding the USA and the EU), and more than 1,500 scholarships were awarded in 2016/2017. There are over 46,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.

The name ‘Chevening’ comes from Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent – currently the joint official residence of the UK’s Foreign Secretary.

More information

Visit Chevening website for detailed information on the Chevening Scholarship Programme.

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The British High Commissioner, Mr Thomas Drew CMG, presented honorary British awards to Nishat Riaz and Shazia Khawar for their exceptional services in the field of education and cultural relations.

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