ISLAMABAD: Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP) celebrated the 25 years of commitment and partnership with UNHCR for the rights of vulnerable communities, honoring the resilience of the people and communities served during the period.

The event was attended by country representative of UNHCR in Pakistan, Philippa Candler; country head of UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Mio Sato; chief commissioner for Afghan refugees Abbas Khan; PPP leader Farhatullah Babar; former NAB chairman Qamar Zaman, KP Commissioner for Afghan refugees; and representatives from UN agencies and embassies (US, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Romania).

The event began with a documentary, followed by welcome remarks from SHARP-Pakistan chairman Liaqat Banori.

In his address, Mr Banori highlighted SHARP’s 25 years of humanitarian services since 1999.

He said, “SHARP has been dedicated to serving vulnerable communities across Pakistan, focusing on human rights, advocacy, and legal assistance.”

Following the regime change in Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan experienced a significant influx of refugees. In response, SHARP established reception centres in Peshawar, Islamabad, and Karachi to support the registration of new arrivals.

To date, these centres have registered 365,684 individuals, he added.

According to internal data, around 5.8 million refugees and asylum seekers benefited from SHARP-Pakistan’s assistance.

Ms Candler, the representative of UNHCR Pakistan, said, “Our mission is to protect refugees’ rights and ensure Afghan citizen cardholders have access to essential services. Together, we have navigated challenges, making a significant impact on those we serve.”

The UNHCR representative also extended gratitude to the government and chief commissioner for Afghan refugees, for their support.

Ms Sato, the IOM chief of mission, stated as a partner of SHARP, IOM was pleased to celebrate its silver jubilee.

“While the achievements have been noteworthy, the needs remain high, and IOM remains committed to supporting displaced Afghan nationals with vital protection services, with key partners such as SHARP,” Ms Sato added.

Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Abbas Khan said through its longstanding collaboration with the UNHCR, SHARP made significant contributions to the protection, rights, and welfare of refugees in Pakistan for 25 years.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2024