NEW FOREST MP Desmond Swayne has been forging international links during his first-ever visit to Pakistan.

Mr Swayne, who is Minister of State for International Development, spent three days in the country — speaking to leading figures from the businesses community and civil society.

He said: “Pakistan is our largest bilateral programme. My main effort was to promote two of our key development priorities — economic growth. It’s all about jobs - Pakistan needs to grow at 8 per cent per year just to provide jobs for the extra workers coming into the market due to population growth, but the long term average is only four per cent, and women and girls in the international gender equality index Pakistan is second from bottom.”

During the visit he met with Shabaz Sharif, the First Minister of Punjab - Pakistan’s largest province - and the Minister of Finance Mohammad Ishaq Dar as well as other key figures to find out more about the economic growth strategies of the federal and provincial governments.

The UK is looking to do more to support inclusive economic growth for example by expanding access to financial services, supporting small and medium enterprises and delivering more skills training in Punjab and other provinces.

The Department of International Development has also identified improving educational and economic development for girls and women as a priority.

Mr Swayne also met with leading women politicians and advocates to discuss changing attitudes to women. Mr Swaine also visited the Kash Foundation, a livelihoods organisation that the Government are funding which trains women in basic skills, and how to set up and run their own business together with providing micro finance loans.

Mr Swayne added: “Pakistan is a country with many problems and many opportunities. It is on the frontline in the battle against extremism, intolerance, and terrorism. I believe that its stability and prosperity is vital to our own security and that of the entire region.

“I see our international development commitment as an investment. Of course we are there to relieve poverty, and improve the lives and chances for women. But, we are also working there to ensure that Britain is safe and prosperous too."