UK appoints first female high commissioner to Pakistan

In an unprecedented move, the British government has said it has appointed Jane Marriott as the first female high commissioner to Pakistan. 

Marriot, who is ready to take up her role in mid-July, said she was excited to be appointed as the next British High Commissioner to Pakistan — which she has visited twice before. 

"I am looking forward to getting to know this culturally rich and deeply diverse country even better. The United Kingdom’s relationship with Pakistan is rooted in shared history. Our people-to-people ties bind our countries together in a common partnership, which I will be aiming to strengthen further," Marriot said. 

Prior to this appointment, Marriot was the high commissioner to Kenya from September 2019 to June 2023. During her tenure, she delivered a new UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, strengthening ties across mutual prosperity, sustainable development, security and stability, people-to-people links and tackling climate change.

Under her leadership, she oversaw the launch of new clean, green, sustainable energy projects as well as delivering UK-Kenyan cooperation to create the first-ever Kenyan Marine Commando Unit, underlining the UK's commitment to the fight against terrorism in Kenya and the region.

She also supported the restoration of over 1,000 hectares of deforested land, and under her leadership, the UK established a ‘Digital Access Programme’ in partnership with Kenyan stakeholders in the tech industry to train users on digital inclusion, cyber hygiene, and the regulation of online content.

The newly-appointed high commissioner brings a wealth of thematic and regional experience to her new role having joined the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in 2001, following roles in the Cabinet Office and Home Office. She has previously served as the director of the UK’s Joint International Counter-Terrorism Unit, joint FCDO Director for the Middle East and North Africa, ambassador to Sana’a, Yemen (2013-15), deputy and acting ambassador to Tehran; and as an adviser to the US special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke. She has also completed two diplomatic postings to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.