Pakistan has paid a staggering price for its long-standing humanitarian principles, losing over 90,000 lives to terrorism while simultaneously hosting one of the world’s largest refugee populations, a senior lawmaker told an international forum on Wednesday. The stark statement came from Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani, who addressed the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, framing the nation’s commitment not as a mere act but as a defining national value upheld despite immense challenges.
In his address, Durrani underscored Pakistan’s decades-long record of aid, recalling its historic role in sheltering millions of Afghan refugees since the 1980s. He noted that despite significant resource constraints, the country’s schools, hospitals, and communities welcomed those fleeing war and persecution in what has become one of the most prolonged refugee situations worldwide.
This dedication, however, has come at a grave cost. The senator emphasized that the nation has suffered profound economic losses and a tragic human toll from terrorism, often linked to cross-border militancy. “Even in the face of pain and loss, Pakistan has never turned away from its humanitarian responsibilities,” Durrani asserted.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian cause, he confirmed the continued provision of humanitarian and medical assistance to Gaza. He added that the nation’s Parliament consistently condemns Israeli aggression and urges adherence to international humanitarian law. The senator also highlighted the country’s principled stance on oppressed communities globally, including in Kashmir, asserting that humanity must transcend politics.
On the domestic front, Durrani pointed to major reforms undertaken through the National Action Plan to combat extremism and promote moral values, ensuring intolerance finds no place in society.
He also expressed pride in Pakistan’s significant contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions. According to the senator, thousands of Pakistani troops have served, and many have laid down their lives, in the defense of humanitarian principles and civilian protection across Africa and the Middle East.
Concluding his remarks, Senator Durrani said that for Pakistan’s youth, humanitarianism is a moral duty guided by justice and empathy. He affirmed that the nation remains steadfast in its pledge to global peace, compassionate action, and the protection of vulnerable populations everywhere.