Zubair Qureshi
United Nations’ refugee agency, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has appointed noted Pakistani actress Mahira Khan as UNHCR’s National Goodwill Ambassador. This was announced during a ceremony held at a local hotel here on Wednesday. Minister of State for States & Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Shehryar Afridi, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations George Okoth-Obbo and UNHCR Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia & the Pacific Indrika Ratwatte were also present on the occasion. While expressing her resolve to work as the UNHCR’s national goodwill ambassador, Mahira Khan said she felt privileged to have been chosen to serve for the noble cause.”
“I feel privileged to have been chosen to serve this noble cause,” said Ms Khan. She said Pakistan has been hosting the Afghan refugees for the last four decades “and I feel proud that my country is one of the most generous countries of the world. By becoming UNHCR’s National Goodwill Ambassador I wish to stand behind such incredible acts of hospitality and humanity.”
Mahira Khan was of the view that majority of refugees were being hosted by the developing countries and a shared sense of responsibility has yet to be achieved. “More needs to be done to support countries and communities which host refugees,” said she. SAFRON Minister Afridi congratulating Mahira Khan hoped she would continue to carry on the noble work and highlight refugees issues on various forums. Pakistan, he said is hosting the largest number of refugees and the world needed to realize its contributions.
UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations George Okoth-Obbo on the occasion commended the newly-appointed UNHCR’s National Goodwill Ambassador for supporting UNHCR’s activities and for continuing to demonstrate her personal commitment towards refugees.
