ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The two-day International Conference on “40 years of Afghan Refugees Presence in Pakistan: A New Partnership for Solidarity” kicked off in Islamabad on Monday morning, the Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency reported.
The Refugee Summit Islamabad – being organized jointly by the Government of Pakistan in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – aims at to highlight the generosity, hospitality and compassion of the Islamic Republics of Pakistan which has hosted one of the largest refugee populations in the world for four decades.
The Conference will seek to galvanize greater support to establish conditions for voluntary repatriation and sustainable reintegration of refugees in Afghanistan, and increased international burden- and responsibility-sharing with host Countries, in line with the Solution Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) and the Global Compact on Refugees.
Pakistan hosting Afghan refugees for 40 years#WithRefugees #RefugeeSummit #ThankYouPakistan
Refugee Summit Islamabad – A New Partnership for Solidarity�17-18 February 2020 pic.twitter.com/oZ6RRg9byg— UNHCR Pakistan (@UNHCRPakistan) February 16, 2020
Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Federal Minister and Senior Officials were attending the Conference. Besides, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres along with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, as well as Ministers and Senior Officials from around 20 Countries, who have been supporting the Afghan refugees across the globe, were also present in the event.
Earlier in a meeting with a delegation of Afghan refugees in Islamabad on Sunday, Antonio Guterres – who is in Islamabad to attend the International Conference on Afghan refugees – expressed gratitude to the people and government of Pakistan over their heartfelt hospitality as they are hosting overall 2.7 million refugees with 2.4 million registered refugees affected by the Afghan war.
My first meeting in Pakistan: generations of Afghan refugees shared their deeply moving stories, hopes & dreams.
For 40 years, Pakistan has sheltered Afghan refugees. I urge the world to support host countries and show similar leadership in standing #WithRefugees. pic.twitter.com/rc4e75qNw9
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 16, 2020
