A WORCESTERSHIRE MP has been to Pakistan to discuss trade, the fight against terrorism and where foreign aid is spent.

Nigel Huddleston was among a special delegation which visited Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and Pakistani last week at the invitation of its Government officials.

During a mammoth trip, braving temperatures of over 38C, they spent time with security bosses, police chiefs, leading politicians, business owners and charity workers.

He also got to see the famous Mohatta Palace museum, met with Punjab's chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and talked with women at a refugee camp.

Over the last 10 years almost 50,000 people have been killed in terrorist attacks on Pakistan soil, particularly along its long and dangerous border with Afghanistan.

The UK Government is giving the country specialist equipment and security advice, and Pakistan also gets between £300 million and £400 million in international aid from British taxpayers each year.

Mr Huddleston, who represents Mid-Worcestershire, said he went away reassured about where some of the aid is being spent.

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He also said the delegation, which included other MPs, had some very "frank exchanges" with ministers in Pakistan on a range of topics.

"It was a fascinating trip to a country that receives the second highest amount of international aid from UK taxpayers," he said.

"I was able to see first-hand how that money is being spent, and I was particularly impressed by the efforts being made in the fields of education and with business start-ups in some of the most deprived parts of the country.

"I will never forget the gratitude expressed to me, as a representative of UK taxpayers, by those whose lives have been changed by British aid.

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"I was also encouraged by the positive attitude of officials and business people about new trading opportunities between the UK and Pakistan, particularly in fields such as legal services, financial services and architecture."

He added: "We were able to have some very frank exchanges with senior officials and ministers about a wide range of issues.

"I'm confident we'll develop a strong and enduring relationship with this fast growing country of 200 million people that will benefit us both.”

Some of the aid is being spent on empowering women, giving them more chances to find work and increasing political engagement.

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Some opponents of the aid say Pakistan is getting UK money despite being able to afford a space programme and nuclear weapons.

Some backbench MPs have called upon Theresa May to ditch the spending, but the PM says it is making Britain safer.