June 20, 2003	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 19, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 19: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Pakistan will celebrate the 3rd World Refugee Day on Friday from 9:30am to 5pm in the auditorium of the National Library.

According to a statement issued here on Thursday, the theme for this years World Refugee Day is ‘refugee youth: building the future’.

Afghan refugees will mark the day with songs, a speech competition, a painting competition, plays and music programme. Handicrafts made by refugees such as carpets, embroidery, paintings and other decorative items will be put on display.

The UNHCR officer-in-charge, Philip Karani, will open the event. Statements by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers and UN secretary general Kofi Annan will be read out on the occasion. The UNHCR will provide an update on the assistance programme for refugees in Pakistan.

The UNHCR has also arranged a lecture on HIV/Aids on 19 June from 10am to 1:30pm at the auditorium of the National Library as part of a first day of activities involving Afghan refugee students

The High Commissioner for Refugees in his message on the eve of World Refugee Day has said this year’s World Refugee Day is dedicated to million of young people whose futures have been jeopardized by war, persecution and exile.