Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says World Refugee Day reminds us ensuring the protection and safe rehabilitation of refugees as a shared responsibility of the international community.

In his message on World Refugee Day, he called for collective commitment at international level to ensure 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.

He said, following the events of 1979, millions of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan to escape conflict and insecurity.

He said Pakistan despite its limited resources, opened not only its borders but also its heart to them and to their generations providing care and support.

The Prime Minister said, 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.

He said 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 have returned to their homeland.

Shehbaz Sharif said, throughout this period, Pakistan also faced significant economic, social, environmental and security challenges.

The Prime Minister said a peaceful, stable, and economically resilient Afghanistan is essential for the dignified return and sustainable reintegration of Afghan nationals.

He said Pakistan highly values its partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the broader international community in advancing this shared objective.