United Nations honours Pakistani Peacekeeper

NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal posthumously to a Pakistani soldier, Naik Muhammad Naeem Raza, who embraced martyrdom on 27 January 2018 while serving in the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The posthumous award was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, during a solemn ceremony held at UN Headquarters in New York to commemorate the International Day of Peacekeepers.

Speaking after the ceremony, Ambassador Lodhi said that she was humbled and honoured to receive this award for Shaheed Muhammad Naeem Raza.

“This award of the Dag Hammarskjold medal to our hero is a recognition by the UN secretary general of the sacrifice, dedication and professionalism of Pakistan’s peacekeepers”, she added.

During the ceremony 119 brave individuals were honoured for making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty to uphold international peace and security in 2018 and early 2019.

The awardees included military and police personnel, international civil servants, and UN staff from 38 countries serving in 12 different UN Peacekeeping Operations around the world.

Pakistan has a proud tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping, and has consistently been ranked among the world’s top troop contributors. The country has contributed over 200,000 troops to 46 UN peacekeeping mission over the last six decades.

“Pakistani peacekeepers”, Ambassador Lodhi said, “continue to serve UN peacekeeping missions with distinction and fly the flag of Pakistan high”.

“Their sacrifices are testimony to Pakistan’s commitment to upholding international peace and security”, she added.