*NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Maleeha Lodhiannounced the country’s voluntary contribution to the UN’s relief and worksagency for Palestine. *
Pakistan told the UN Tuesday that the international community must continueto stand by the Palestinian people.
Speaking in the General Assembly’s special pledging event for the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA), Lodhi announcedPakistan’s contribution to UNRWA that was commensurate to the contributionmade last year. This was a reaffirmation of Pakistan’s unwavering andlongstanding commitment to its Palestinian brothers and sisters, she said.
The Pakistani envoy stressed that predictable and sustainable financing wasessential to maintain the integrity of the Agency’s relief activities forPalestinian people.
She recalled Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address to the recent OIC Summitin the holy city of Makkah, in which he reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfastsupport to the Palestinian cause including the establishment of a two-statesolution with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of an independentPalestinian State. There is no other pathway to peace, she added
Ambassador Lodhi noted that amid all their trials and tribulations,Palestinian refugees had been reassured in their hopes by the constantpresence of UNRWA.
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“The over five million Palestinian refugees”, the Pakistan envoyemphasized, “are not just a statistic – they are human beings”. “Their eyesglow with hopes, aspirations and dreams of a peaceful and prosperoustomorrow”, she added.
She described the role of UNRWA as both imperative and laudable, and urgedother member states to join efforts to support the work of this importantrelief agency.
Ambassador Lodhi concluded by expressing the hope that a new dawn ofPalestinian statehood would emerge sooner rather than later whenPalestinian refugees could finally return to their homes, and UNRWA wouldno longer be needed.
“Till that time”, she reiterated “Pakistan remains committed to the causeof Palestine and the important work of UNRWA.
