Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to refugees, urging the international community to share responsibility for supporting host countries and ensuring the safe, dignified return and reintegration of displaced people.
In his message marking World Refugee Day, observed this year under the theme “Until Everyone is Safe,” the prime minister said Pakistan stood in solidarity with refugees around the world and paid tribute to their resilience, courage and determination.
He said the theme underscores that safety is a fundamental human right and stressed that protecting and rehabilitating people displaced by conflict, insecurity and other crises is a shared global responsibility.
Sharif noted that, for Pakistan, World Refugee Day reflects a humanitarian commitment demonstrated over nearly five decades. Referring to the arrival of Afghan refugees after the events of 1979, he said Pakistan opened its borders despite limited resources, providing shelter and support to millions of Afghans.
He added that Pakistan remained one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries for more than four decades, offering Afghan families access to education, healthcare, employment and other essential services while enabling them to live with dignity and respect.