KARACHI: First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari said that international humanitarian law must be upheld and civilian lives protected, stressing that the principles of the United Nations must apply equally to every human life, irrespective of geography, nationality or political circumstance.
Addressing the United Nations Day 2026 celebrations in Karachi, the First Lady highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding partnership with the organisation in development, education, humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping. She said international cooperation remained essential to addressing challenges that no country could overcome alone.
Referring to the suffering of innocent people in Gaza, she emphasised that the principles of the United Nations must apply equally to every human life, irrespective of geography, nationality or political circumstances.
The First Lady also highlighted the devastating impact of the 2022 floods in Pakistan, noting that the support extended by the United Nations and international partners had demonstrated the value of cooperation during a crisis. She called for climate justice, pointing out that countries and communities contributing least to climate change often bear its greatest consequences.
Highlighting her commitment to polio eradication, Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari said every child deserves protection from preventable disease, regardless of where they were born or their family circumstances.
She acknowledged the work of frontline health workers, supported by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other partners, in advancing the shared goal of a polio-free Pakistan.
The First Lady also underscored the importance of children’s nutrition and education. She expressed support for the World Food Programme’s ShareTheMeal campaign, which aims to provide 150,000 nutritious school meals to children across Pakistan.
She said school meals can improve attendance and learning while helping children build healthier futures.
Reflecting on the values that shaped her commitment to public service, she recalled the belief of her mother, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, in international cooperation, dialogue, education for every child and opportunities for women to determine their own futures.
The First Lady said the strength of the United Nations lay not only in international agreements but also in the tangible difference its work makes in people’s lives.
She called for continued collective efforts to build a more peaceful and compassionate world.
The United Nations Day celebration was organised by the United Nations in Pakistan in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan and in partnership with the Government of Sindh and other partners.
The event marked more than eight decades of partnership between Pakistan and the United Nations and featured an exhibition on Pakistan’s contributions to the UN, including peacekeeping, alongside information and careers booths and cultural performances.
The event was attended by MNA Shazia Atta Marri, Sindh Minister for Labour Saeed Ghani, Sindh Education Minister Sardar Shah, MPA Qasim Soomro, MPA Jam Shabbir, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Shaikh, among other participants.
The First Lady thanked the United Nations team in Pakistan for bringing the celebration to Karachi and providing the public with an opportunity to learn more about the organisation’s work.