Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – the newly appointed United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Lao PDR, Ms. Mariam A. Khan presents her letter of credential to Mr. Sengphet Huangbounyuang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Lao PDR.
Ms. Khan, comes to Laos with over 20 years of diverse experience in leading and managing development programmes, humanitarian response, change management initiatives and working with multi-cultural teams. She brings a passion for promoting a rights based agenda that focuses on improving lives of women and young people in particular, through culturally sensitive approaches and evidence based methodologies.
Mr. Huangbounyuang welcomed Ms Khan and noted that "Government of Laos would like to congratulate and acknowledge UNFPA for strong contributions to 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (8th NSEDP) and the Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG2030) both of which contribute to social and economic development of Laos to full graduation from LDC by 2024. The Noi framework 2030 developed with support of UNFPA is very important for the Government of Laos and Lao government welcomes even stronger cooperation in the areas of Gender and Family Planning”.
In response, Ms. Khan thanked the Deputy Minister and stated “I am honoured to have been assigned as UNFPA’s Representative to Lao DPR and look forward to further strengthening the UNFPA contributions to the socio economic development in Lao PDR so that young girls and boys can avail opportunities and have the possibility to realise their full potential”. Before being appointed to Lao PDR, Ms. Khan served as UNFPA Representative in Algeria for 3 years, UNFPA Representative a.i in Tanzania and UNFPA Deputy Representative in China. With two Master degrees, Sociology and Population Studies, Ms. Khan speaks English, Urdu, French, Punjabi and basic Mandarin.
