Pakistan consistently demonstrated compassion for humanity: Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to humanitarian service, human dignity and solidarity, paying tribute to humanitarian workers who risk their lives to serve people affected by conflicts, disasters and other crises.

In his message on World Humanitarian Day, observed today (Wednesday), the prime minister said Pakistan joined the international community in upholding the values of compassion, human dignity and humanitarian service.

He paid tribute to humanitarian workers, institutions and organisations that dedicated themselves to serving humanity and promoting human welfare.

The World Humanitarian Day is observed each year in memory of the 22 humanitarian workers who had lost their lives in the bombing of the United Nations compound in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003.

The day honours the sacrifices, courage and selflessness of humanitarian workers serving communities affected by crises and disasters.

The prime minister said it was a matter of pride that Pakistan was among the countries that had consistently demonstrated compassion for humanity at the international level and translated that commitment into meaningful action.

He highlighted Pakistan’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping missions, describing it as significant and commendable.

He said Pakistan had a “long and proud tradition” of standing in solidarity with people in need and extending support to the international community.

The country’s decades-long hosting of millions of Afghan refugees and its assistance during humanitarian crises at regional and global levels, he said, reflected Pakistan’s generosity, steadfastness and compassion.

“This enduring spirit of humanity, hospitality and mutual support is a true reflection of our national character,” the prime minister said.

He said Pakistan’s humanitarian ethos was also reflected in its constitutional values and national traditions.

He said protecting the rights and dignity of vulnerable and marginalised segments of society remained among the foremost priorities of the government.

Through effective measures, he added, the government was striving to build an inclusive, equitable and empowered society in which individuals had equal access to opportunities without any discrimination.

The prime minister said that over the past year, the Ministry of Human Rights had translated policy commitments into practical measures through a network of welfare centres, training institutions and protection facilities.

The ministry was also taking measures to promote social inclusion of special persons and ensure their access to essential civic services and facilities, he said.

The government was taking special measures to increase women’s participation in social and economic spheres, he said, adding that this would help harness the full potential of humanity without discrimination on the basis of gender.

He said that protecting vulnerable and marginalised people at the grassroots level, promoting gender equality, protecting children and empowering young people were essential for advancing human rights, social justice and social welfare.

On the World Humanitarian Day, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s national commitment to remain guided by its constitutional values and uphold the highest ideals of humanity in times of peace as well as crisis.

He said the government would continue striving to ensure that vulnerable segments of society received the protection and support they deserved and had opportunities to live with dignity.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026