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UNITED NATIONS, Feb 3 (APP):Pakistan has highly praised ‘Darülaceze’, a comprehensive social care institution in Istanbul, Türkiye, saying that since 1895, it has demonstrated that long-term care systems are strongest when they unite state responsibility with philanthropy, volunteerism and community ownership.
“Darülaceze stands as a powerful testament to how compassion, when anchored in social solidarity and public trust, can be transformed into a lasting mission,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told a side-event on the sidelines of the 64th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development.
The event was jointly organized by Türkiye, Pakistan, Qatar, and Azerbaijan.
It was titled — “Building an Inclusive Long-Term Care System Sustained by Social Solidarity: Türkiye’s 130-Year-Old Home of Compassion ‘Darülaceze’— as an Example of Good Practice.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad said that Darülaceze’s principles resonate deeply with Pakistan’s own social and moral traditions, where solidarity-based care is embedded both in public policy and societal practice.
Highlighting Pakistan’s government-led initiatives, the Pakistani envoy referred to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as a cornerstone of the country’s social protection framework.
He said that financed through the federal budget, BISP provides targeted cash transfers to millions of low-income households—primarily women-headed families—serving as a vital instrument for poverty alleviation, income security, and social inclusion.
“BISP reflects a clear policy choice: that protecting the most vulnerable is a responsibility of the State and a matter of dignity and rights,” he stated.
Ambassador Asim Ahmad also drew attention to the long-standing role of Pakistan ‘Bait-ul-Mal’ in supporting the elderly, women, persons with disabilities, orphans, and individuals without family care. He said that services, rendered by it including residential care homes, medical assistance, rehabilitation, and vocational training, are sustained through a blended model, which combines government funding, zakat, charitable endowments, and voluntary contributions.
He also drew attention Pakistan’s globally recognized tradition of organized philanthropy and volunteerism, citing the Edhi Foundation as a universal symbol of humanitarian service. He said that operating shelters, ambulance services, old-age homes, and emergency response networks largely through public donations and volunteers, the Foundation exemplifies society-driven care.
Ambassador Asim Ahmad also noted the growing role of charitable trusts, faith-based organizations, and private-sector corporate social responsibility initiatives in supporting long-term care and community-based social services across Pakistan.
He called for greater international support to elevate solidarity-based care models from good practice to global policy, urging the United Nations and international financial institutions to invest in their documentation, financing, and scaling as integral pillars of inclusive social development.