Pakistan on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to supporting refugees and called on the international community to share responsibility for assisting host countries and ensuring the safe and dignified return of displaced populations.
Prime Minister's Message on World Refugee Day
In a message issued on World Refugee Day, observed this year under the theme “Until Everyone is Safe”, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan stood in solidarity with refugees around the world and paid tribute to their resilience and courage in the face of displacement. He said the theme underscored that safety was a fundamental human right and highlighted the collective responsibility of the international community to protect and rehabilitate people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, insecurity and other crises.
Pakistan's Longstanding Humanitarian Commitment
The prime minister noted that while World Refugee Day promotes awareness of refugee issues globally, for Pakistan it also reflects a humanitarian commitment that the country has upheld for nearly five decades. Recalling the arrival of Afghan refugees after the events of 1979, he said Pakistan had opened its borders and provided shelter and assistance to millions of Afghans despite limited resources. He added that successive generations of refugees had been given opportunities to live with dignity through access to education, healthcare and employment.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan had remained among the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries for more than 40 years, establishing settlements and camps while facilitating essential services for Afghan families residing in the country.
Ongoing Repatriation Programme
Referring to the government’s ongoing repatriation programme, the prime minister said Pakistan had been implementing a phased, orderly and dignified return process since September 2023. He noted that more than 2.4 million Afghan nationals had returned to Afghanistan by June 2026. “These figures are not merely statistics but represent the lives of millions of people who found safety, shelter and support in Pakistan during some of the most difficult periods of their lives,” he said.
The premier acknowledged that hosting millions of refugees had placed considerable economic, social, environmental and security pressures on Pakistan. He stressed that the sacrifices made by host countries should be recognised and supported by the international community.
Call for Global Responsibility
He emphasised that refugee protection and repatriation were shared global responsibilities and said a peaceful, stable and economically resilient Afghanistan was essential for the sustainable reintegration of returning Afghan nationals. Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with international partners, including the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to support refugee welfare and return efforts.
Paying tribute to the Pakistani people, he praised their generosity and compassion, saying they had consistently shared their resources, educational institutions and healthcare facilities with refugees despite facing their own challenges.
Conclusion
The prime minister said Pakistan’s treatment of refugees stood as an example of humanitarian solidarity and described the hospitality extended by its people as a proud chapter in the country’s history. He urged the international community to renew its commitment to ensuring that refugees, displaced persons and stateless individuals were provided with hope, peace and the opportunity to return home safely and with dignity.
