ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for economically stable Afghanistan for resettlement of Afghan refugees.

“A peaceful, stable, and economically resilient Afghanistan is essential for the dignified return and sustainable reintegration of Afghan nationals,” the PM said in his message on the World Refugees Day which will be observed on June 20, Saturday.

He said on the World Refugees Day, Pakistan joined the international community in expressing solidarity with refugees around the world.

PM Shehbaz said that globally, the day is observed to promote compassion for refugees and to raise awareness of the hardships they endure.

“For Pakistan, however, this is not merely a sentiment expressed on a particular day; it reflects a humanitarian commitment that our nation has demonstrated in practice for nearly half a century,” he said.

After events of 1979, he said, millions of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan to escape conflict and insecurity.

Despite its limited resources, Pakistan opened not only its borders but also its heart to them and to their generations providing care and support.

In keeping with its humanitarian traditions, Pakistan established refugee settlements and camps and, for more than four decades, remained among the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries and several generations of Afghan families lived in Pakistan with dignity.