The United Nations Tuesday honoured the sacrifices of 112 peacekeepers including 8 Pakistanis.
Addressing a solemn ceremony marking the annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to the sacrifice of 112 peacekeepers including 8 Pakistanis who paid the ultimate price in serving the cause of peace in hot spots around the world last year.
“Peace, stability and justice – these are timeless goals of peacekeeping, he said.
The fallen we remember today contributed to these eternal aims – and their legacy will live on for all time,” the UN Secretary-General told the ceremony.
He also paid tributes to the more than 120,000 military, police and civilians currently serving worldwide under the blue flag.
Pakistan’s Acting Permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Raza Bashir Tarar, received the Dag Hammarskold Medals on behalf of the families of the awardees from UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon at the ceremony held at UN Headquarters in New York.
“Today we remember 112 lives cut short. They remind us of the risks of peacekeeping. But today I also want to remember the rewards.”, Ban Ki-moon.
Pakistan is one the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions around the world, with some 10,000 troops.
The UN General Assembly established the International Day in 2002 to pay tribute to all men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.
The 193-member body designated 29 May as the Day, as it was the date in 1948 when the first UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), began operations in Palestine.
