Mahira Khan named UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Mahira Khan is named UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan. The announcement came on November 6.

UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, George Okoth Obbo , presented a certificate of appointment to Khan, at a ceremony held in Islamabad.

She has been associated with the UN for a while now. Prior to her new appointment she has visited Afghan refugees in Peshawar as part of a high=profile UN delegation.

Mahira Khan has been speaking up for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. There are more than 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

UNHCR’s newest Goodwill Ambassador

We're delighted to announce that @themahirakhan is our newest Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan. 👏 pic.twitter.com/SAPjBY7E05
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) November 6, 2019

She also received a letter from UNHCR for her parents as well. Sharing the letter on her Instagram she wrote about the feelings of her parents. She wrote:

I received the sweetest letter from UNHCR for my parents. Needless to say it made me extremely emotional. My Ama was crying and my Aba was smiling his biggest smile.
Sometimes I forget that I have been chosen to be put in the position that I am in, given the platform I have been given and the kind of love that I receive. I hope and pray that I can always always uphold the responsibility I have been given by my country, my fans and my loved ones inshAllah.
Forever grateful,

Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hafeez R Khan.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4kTnxghibq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Mahira Khan also shared her gratitude on social media and said:

Grateful and honoured to be a @Refugees goodwill ambassador for Pakistan
Proud to be born to a motherland that has opened its arms to refugees for over 40 years @UNHCRPakistan

Grateful and honoured to be a @Refugees goodwill ambassador for Pakistan🙏🏼Proud to be born to a motherland that has opened its arms to refugees for over 40 years 🇵🇰🙌🏼 @UNHCRPakistan https://t.co/kGagHGJLlv
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) November 6, 2019

UNHCR also replied to her tweet

And we are so grateful for your continued support, Mahira. Thank you for standing #WithRefugees.

And we are so grateful for your continued support, Mahira. Thank you for standing #WithRefugees. 🙏
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) November 6, 2019

Paying tribute to Pakistan for hosting Afghan refuges she said “I feel proud that my country has shown such generosity towards three generations of Afghan refugees. By becoming UNHCR National Goodwill Ambassador, I wish to stand behind such incredible acts of hospitality and humanity.”

“When I look into the eyes of refugees across our country, I see an incredibly strong people filled with hopes and dreams. Like you or me, there is nothing that a refugee can’t do.”