Mahira Khan evokes compassion for Afghan refugees on World Refugee Day

In a bid to bring global awareness of the struggles refugees face around the world, Mahira Khan has joined hands with UNHCR yet again to create awareness about Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan.

 

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A lot of times my job has allowed me to witness days and moments that humble me. Today was one of those days. Today I’m also proud to say that my country is one of the most generous countries of the world. The Government and people of Pakistan – with the support of the international community – have been generously hosting Afghan refugees for nearly forty years. Since 2002, around 4.3 million Afghan refugees have returned back to Afghanistan under the largest voluntary return programme in the world. The UN refugee agency has been closely working with the Government of Pakistan and other partners to ensure that the rights of refugees are fully protected. Pakistan continues to host 1.39 million Afghan refugees. You may ask, why should we care? We must care because more than half of the refugees are kids. A lot of them came unaccompanied, without their mothers or fathers.. a lot of them were even born here. They are our future, every child in the world is. No one chooses to be a refugee. No one chooses to leave their home. #unhcrpakistan #UNHCR @unhcrpakistan

A post shared by Mahira Khan (@mahirahkhan) on Sep 5, 2018 at 6:16am PDT

The Goodwill ambassador is no stranger to speaking about the issue, after visiting Afghan refugee camps across the country. Last year, Mahira Khan took part in her first ever humanitarian mission as part of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Pakistan. The actress visited Afghan refugees in Karachi as part of the international UN Refugee Agency’s program to protect refugees and displaced people.

Uploading a series of tweets and videos, the Verna star has stressed upon the plight of refugees and the nation giving many of them home.

They’ve been denied a home.. but we haven’t denied them hope. Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees over several years and continues to do so, we have given them a home within our motherland ???????? #WorldRefugeeDay #UNHCR @UNHCRPakistan pic.twitter.com/olNs55kqtd

— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) June 20, 2019

“They’ve been denied a home, but we haven’t denied them hope,” Mahira tweeted.

She continued, “Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees over several years and continues to do so, we have given them a home within our motherland.”

The video showcases short interviews of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan. It also features actor Yasir Hussain, saying, “nobody would willingly choose to leave the comfort of their own homes.”

The theme for World Refugee Day 2019 is #StepWithRefugees — Take A Step on World Refugee Day. The theme focuses on that there is a need to take big and small steps in solidarity with refugees from around the world.