Newsletter – April 2007 The Queen’s Commonwealth Day UK and Pakistan Agree Closer Co- 2007 Message operation on Counter -Terrorism Attorney-General, the Rt Hon. Lord Goldsmith QC, announced the agreement at the culmination of his visit to Pakistan. The agreement included a commitment by the British government to post a prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service to the British High Commission in Islamabad, to act as a liaison between the prosecution and law enforcement authorities of both countries on terrorism and other criminal justice cases. During the course of his three-day official visit, hosted by the Federal Law, Justice and Human Rights Minister, Muhammad Wasi Zafar, Lord Goldsmith met with Prime HM The Queen, in her capacity as the Head of the Minister Shaukat Aziz, Interior Secretary Kamal Shah, Commonwealth, delivered her annual Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, Attorney General of Commonwealth Day message on 12th March at the Pakistan Makdoom Ali Khan, and others. They discussed multi-faith Observance service in Westminster counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, and enhancing legal Abbey. and judicial co-operation. “Today's Commonwealth is home to nearly a third of the world's population. Its almost two billion citizens come Lord Goldsmith also expressed concerns during his visit from so many faiths, races, cultures and traditions. about the ongoing case against the Chief Justice of Pakistan, recalling the European Union’s position on the I think that one of the reasons for the success of this matter. He emphasised the importance to be attached to organisation is that it draws not only on certain shared the independence of the judiciary as a key element of the values, but also from the principles and practices of rule of law. everyday life, which can be observed day after day in the cities, towns and villages of our 53 member Before returning to the UK, Lord Goldsmith said: "I have countries. had a very fruitful visit to Pakistan, which is a key ally for the UK on issues like extremism, terrorism and drug Over thousands of years, the very basis of community trafficking, which affect both our countries. I reiterated the life has been the pooling together by individuals of their gratitude of the British Government for the great help we resources and skills. receive from the Government of Pakistan." In this issue: Rather than having to be good at everything, people Members in the News were able to practise their own skill or craft. The lesson Congratulations to Sultana Al DIFID Consultation P2 of community life is that to flourish we must help each Qu’aiti for receiving MBE from The Queen Cont. P3 other. To do this, there has to be a sense of fairness, a Sitara-i-Imtiaz P3 HM The Queen for services to The Lord Mayor P4 real understanding of others' needs and aspirations, and disadvantaged communities in Yaseen Anwer P4 a willingness to contribute. Yemen and to British relations Bob Woolmer P6 with Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Sports News P6 New Books P7 Despite its size and scale, the Commonwealth to me is _____________________________ still at heart a collection of villages. In close-knit Recent Events P8 Reminder: Please Renew Your Society Events P8 communities like these, there are beliefs and values we Annual Membership Other Events P9 share and cherish. We know that helping others will lead Subscription Annual Dinner Form P11 to greater security and prosperity for ourselves. _____________________ The annual Membership fee for Next Event: AGM at 6pm 2007 is now due. Ordinary on 25 April 2007 at the Continued on page 3. Members £30, Students £10. High Commission for Pakistan, London SW1. 1 How should the UK spend up to £480m to cut poverty, improve healthcare and increase education opportunities in Pakistan? Your chance to get involved and also in Punjab and NWFP. If DFID also considered new work in Sindh, Balochistan or AJK where do you think the benefits of development would DFID is undertaking a consultation exercise with a be greatest, and what would be the challenges faced? wide range of interested groups to ensure that the impact of its proposals on different sectors of society is taken into account. 7. What can the UK do through its development programme to help Pakistan improve relations with its neighbours? Consultation on New Pakistan Country Assistance Plan 8. How can the UK support Pakistan in adapting to the impacts of climate change? The Department for International Development is helping the Government of Pakistan to tackle poverty. Please e-mail your comments to: [email protected] by 30 April 2007. Between now and the end of April DFID is consulting Alternatively, comments can be sent to: on the development of its new Country Assistance Pakistan CAP Plan (CAP) for Pakistan. DFID British High Commission Prime Minister Tony Blair recently announced that Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5 DFID would be doubling its assistance to Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan increasing spending to £480 million over the period 2008-2011. The new CAP will set out the framework within which this money will be spent. In November 2006 the UK and Pakistan also signed a ten-year Development Partnership Agreement. DFID’s current Pakistan CAP is at 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/cappakistan.pdf Tel: 0207 023 0434 Fax: 0207 023 0291 April 2007 If you would like to contribute, DFID would welcome your views on the following Development in Pakistan and Volunteering questions: Consultation Dear All Poverty Reduction Strategy Thank you for your participation in the consultation events held in January and February this year, to gather 1. How best can the UK help to increase Pakistani views on the UK Government’s development work in peoples' access to basic services (for example Pakistan. education, health, water and sanitation)? Thanks also to everyone who has sent written comments to our online consultation. If you have not yet done so, you can view the consultation document at: 2. What do you think should be the Government of http://www.dfid.gov.uk/consultations/default.asp#pakistan Pakistan's poverty reduction priorities? The closing date for comments is 30 April 2007. One of the issues raised repeatedly at these events was the great potential of the diaspora community to Economic/Governance contribute to development in Pakistan through volunteering, and the desire to find more effective ways 3. What can the UK do to promote economic success to harness this potential. I would like to take the and economic growth that benefits the poor in opportunity to draw your attention to another DFID Pakistan? consultation on a proposed programme to expand opportunities for young people and people from diaspora communities to volunteer in developing countries. Details 4. What can the UK do in Pakistan to support more can also be found on the website above, and comments involvement of poor people, especially women, in are invited by 31 May 2007. decision-making that affects them? We are in the process of carrying out public consultation with government and civil society in Pakistan, including 5. What more can the UK do to help the Government regional events in Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and of Pakistan to promote transparency and Karachi. The views and ideas expressed at these events, and in written comments, will help to shape the new accountability? Country Assistance Plan for Pakistan which is now being developed. We hope to publish this later this year and Geographical will inform you when the document is available. With best wishes, DFID Pakistan CAP Team 6. DFID currently works at the federal level in Pakistan, 2 The Queen’s Message Continued from page 1. Pakistan to honour the late Bob Woolmer with Today's Commonwealth is home to nearly a third of the the prestigious civil award Sitara-i-Imtiaz world's population. Its almost two billion citizens come from so many faiths, races, cultures and traditions. On March 22, Pakistan posthumously conferred Sitara-i- Imtiaz (Star of Excellence), on late Bob Woolmer for his I think that one of the reasons for the success of this services to Pakistan cricket. President Gen Pervez Musharraf organisation is that it draws not only on certain shared in a message to Mrs Gill Woolmer said: values, but also from the principles and practices of everyday life, which can be observed day after day in “It was with immense sorrow that I learnt the shocking news of the demise of your illustrious husband Mr. Bob the cities, towns and villages of our 53 member Woolmer. The sudden passing away of the much countries. respected and loved coach of Pakistan deeply grieved me, just as it did the entire Pakistani nation. Please Over thousands of years, the very basis of community accept on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of life has been the pooling together by individuals of their Pakistan, our heartfelt condolences at this tragic loss. We resources and skills. all fully share your grief and stand beside you in your hour of distress. Rather than having to be good at everything, people were able to practise their own skill or craft. The lesson I had the pleasure of knowing Bob personally, we found of community life is that to flourish we must help each him to be a thorough professional and above all an other. To do this, there has to be a sense of fairness, a excellent human being. He was an honest sincere and warm hearted person who took pride in what he did. real understanding of others' needs and aspirations, Bob's reputation as a great cricketing mind, an excellent and a willingness to contribute.