ISLAMABAD: UNHCR and Peshawar Zalmi on Tuesday renewed their partnership, reaffirming their commitment to promote empathy, dignity and solidarity for refugees and asylum-seekers in Pakistan.
The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Islamabad, attended by Philippa Candler, UNHCR Representative in Pakistan and Mian Abbas Layaq, Chief Operating Officer of Peshawar Zalmi.
The collaboration between the UN refugee agency and the Pakistan Super League franchise began in 2016. Since then, the franchise has supported initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the challenges faced by displaced communities and highlighting their resilience and potential.
Speaking on the occasion, Candler said UNHCR was proud to continue its association with the franchise, adding that the partnership had helped bring refugee voices to a wider audience.
“This is not just a logo on a jersey — it is a badge of humanity, worn with pride by champions on and off the field,” she said, adding that refugees were part of “our team, our stories, and our future.”
Mr Layaq, delivering a message on behalf of Javed Afridi, chairman of the Peshawar Zalmi Foundation, said refugees shared the same hopes and ambitions as others and deserved empathy and dignity.
“Refugees share the same hopes and ambitions as anyone else. Their circumstances call for empathy and dignity,” he said.
As one of the leading franchises of the Pakistan Super League, Peshawar Zalmi has used sport as a platform to promote inclusion and social cohesion, the participants said, reiterating their resolve to continue joint efforts in support of displaced communities.
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