To commemorate 50 years of Pakistan’s contribution to UN peacekeeping mission across the world, a photo exhibition titled “Striving for International Peace: 50 years of Pakistan’s International Commitment, Spirit of Peace” kicked off on Thursday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) have organised this four-day photo exhibition.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani that will remain open for public from 29-31 July. The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives of armed forces, civil armed force, police, diplomats, former Pakistani officials of senior appointments in UN peacekeeping missions besides UN officials, media personnel, injured soldiers, next of kin of UN Shuhada (martyred) and youth from Balochistan and FATA.
United Nations Peacekeeping Department sent a special representative from New York to attend the exhibition. Pakistan permanent envoy to United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon was also present on the occasion. On the occasion, stringent security was measured as police and army personnel’s heavily guarded all the areas around the council’s building. The employees of PNCA were relieved at 12 o clock noon to get the office vacated.
The collection of photographs highlighted the army men’s dedicated and brave efforts. Pictures of the Pakistan Army personnel and establishments, cantonments, infrastructure, images of the Pakistan Army in various exercises and deployments in various countries were also highlighted. A similar kind of photo exhibition was arranged by Pakistan Mission to the UN at UN Headquarters, New York in April this year.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, chief guest on the occasion, appreciated Pakistan’s significant contributions to UN Peacekeeping Missions across the world. Pakistan has hitherto participated in 41 UN Peacekeeping Missions and has been part of some of the most challenging international conflicts. Since 2006 Pakistan remains the largest troop contributing country with over 10,623 personnel presently deployed in eight peacekeeping missions. This constitutes approximately 11 percent of the total UN peacekeeping deployment.
As many as 126 Pakistani peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives out of over 130,000 soldiers deployed so far for the cause of humanity.
