islamabad-US Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, William R Brownfield travelled to Pakistan from October 20-22 to advance US cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, launch a new programme to prevent and respond to violence against women, and enhance justice sector cooperation and reforms with Pakistani counterparts, said the US embassy yesterday.

The meetings he participated in, the remarks he gave and his presence attested to America’s commitment to increasing access to justice and support for security sector reforms in Pakistan, the embassy said. 

Assistant Secretary Brownfield travelled to Islamabad on October 20 where he delivered remarks at the launch of a $3.5 million UN Women project funded by the Department of State’s INL Bureau.

This project aims to improve access to justice for women in Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh through increased access to protections, services, and support. The project will also continue to raise awareness in Pakistan of the violence against women that occurs all too frequently in many areas of the country.

In Islamabad the Assistant Secretary met with the Pakistani Ministry of Interior Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan and Narcotics Control Division Federal Secretary Ajaz Ali Khan regarding U.S. support for law enforcement, border security, and counternarcotics efforts and cooperation. 

Assistant Secretary Brownfield then travelled to Lahore to meet with Chief Minister of Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera. They discussed law enforcement training and reform, as well as counternarcotics assistance and cooperation.