Today, on World Refugees Day, Pakistan joins the international community in expressing solidarity with refugees around the world. Together with the global community, we pay tribute to the resilience, courage, and indomitable spirit of displaced people who have been forced to flee their homes.
This year, World Refugee Day is being observed under the theme, “Until Everyone is Safe.” This theme underscores the fundamental principle that safety is not a privilege or a luxury, but a basic human right. It serves as a reminder that ensuring the protection and safe rehabilitation of those who are compelled to leave their homes due to circumstances beyond their control is a shared responsibility of the international community.
Globally, this day is observed to promote compassion for refugees and to raise awareness of the hardships they endure. For Pakistan, however, this is not merely a sentiment expressed on a particular day; it reflects a humanitarian commitment that our nation has demonstrated in practice for nearly half a century.
Following the events of 1979, millions of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan to escape conflict and insecurity. Pakistan despite its limited resources, opened not only its borders but also its heart to them and to their generations providing care and support.
In keeping with its humanitarian traditions, Pakistan established refugees settlements and camps and, for more than four decades, remained among the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries. Several generations of Afghan families lived in Pakistan with dignity, benefiting from opportunities for employment, education, and essential services despite the constraints on our national resources.
Pakistan effectively managed the movement and welfare of millions of Afghan nationals. Since September 2023, a phased, orderly, and dignified repatriation process has been underway. By June 2026, more than 2.4 million Afghan nationals had returned to their homeland. These figures represent far more than statistics; they reflect the stories of millions of individuals who found safety, shelter, and sustenance on Pakistani soil during some of the most challenging periods of their lives.
Throughout this period, Pakistan also faced significant economic, social, environmental, and security challenges. On this occasion, it is equally important to recognize the burdens borne by host countries. When nations share their resources in the spirit of humanitarian solidarity, the international community must acknowledge and support those efforts.
Hosting and facilitating the return of millions of refugees is a shared global responsibility. A peaceful, stable, and economically resilient Afghanistan is essential for the dignified return and sustainable reintegration of Afghan nationals. Pakistan highly values its partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the broader international community in advancing this shared objective.
I would also like to pay special tribute to the people of Pakistan, whose compassion, generosity, and spirit of regional solidarity have consistently enabled them to share their limited resources, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities with refugees. Pakistan’s humane treatment of refugees stands as an example to the world. The generosity, hospitality, and goodwill of the Pakistani people are truly unparalleled and will remain a proud chapter in our national history.
Let us reaffirm our collective commitment at international level to ensuring that the future of every displaced and stateless person is defined not by permanent exile, but by hope, peace, and the opportunity to return home in safety and dignity.
