Islamabad: The British High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, has arrived in Islamabad to take up her new assignment as UK’s first woman high commissioner to Pakistan.
“Assalam o alaikum, Pakistan! Delighted to be with you. Can’t wait to settle into my wonderful new home” Jane Marriott said in a tweet on July 30. She posted a video of her journey from London Heathrow to Islamabad Airport via British Airways.
The British diplomat said that she is “delighted to be in Pakistan”, a country that has a long-standing relationship with the United Kingdom. The countries have a “special and ever-growing bond” strengthened by 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage in the UK making up every part of British society. “Our friendship stems from our shared history and values, deep people-to-people ties, growing trade links, and a renewed development partnership. I will be working hard to continue to expand these.”
Focus areas of collaboration
The British High Commission Islamabad said in a statement that the new diplomat “arrives at an important time for UK-Pakistan relations, with a significant uplift in UK aid spend in Pakistan focussed on strengthening climate resilience and reducing humanitarian risks.”
Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate catastrophes. In 2022, Pakistan faced unprecedented rains and floods that killed 1,700 people and affected 33 million people. This year, at least 179 people, including children, have been killed in rain-related incidents across Pakistan during month-long rains (June 25 - July 30), according to officials.
“With the climate emergency a growing threat to health and livelihoods across the world, I have a particular interest in ensuring the bilateral relationship between our countries is a green, sustainable one,” the diplomat said.
Jane Marriott will officially commence her duties following the formal presentation of credentials to the President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi in the coming weeks. Marriott was appointed as the successor to the previous UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr. Christian Turner, who left in January 2023 after three year diplomatic posting.
Distinguished diplomatic career
Jane Marriott has been serving as the British High Commissioner to Kenya since 2019.
Before assuming her current position, she led the UK’s Joint International Counter-Terrorism Unit, and her exceptional service in Iraq earned her the Order of the British Empire (OBE) recognition in 2004.
With a distinguished diplomatic career, she has served in the Middle East and North Africa including Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq. She has also led the nuclear non-proliferation policy teams at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
