'Pakistan world’s second largest refugee hosting country': UN chief

• 'For 40 years people of Pakistan have responded with solidarity to people of Afghan," the UN chief said.

The two-day international conference to mark 40 years of Afghan Refugees' presence in Pakistan began on Monday in Islamabad.

The conference titled '40 years of Afghan Refugees Presence in Pakistan: A New Partnership for Solidarity' is being organized jointly by the Pakistan in collaboration with UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The conference is being attended by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, as well as ministers and senior officials from around twenty countries.

Addressing the gathering, UN chief said that for 40 years the people of Afghanistan have faced successive crisis, adding that for 40 years people of Pakistan have responded with solidarity. "During most of my period as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Pakistan was the number one refugee hosting country on earth," he said.

He continued that on his every visit to Pakistan, he is struck by the extraordinary resilience and exceptional generosity and overwhelming compassion.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressed the gathering and said that a joint support platform by Pakistan, Iran and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was formed with the aim to promote and support refugee return.

He continued that the Afghan refugees are hopeful and expecting that they will be given unprecedented support to the peace process. "Afghan refugees are now expecting that with hope for peace you will help them rebuild their country. Their aspirations are genuine and must be met with equal opportunities," the foreign minister said.