UNITED NATIONS, Feb 3: Pakistan has greatly commended ‘Darülaceze’, a comprehensive social care institution located in Istanbul, Türkiye. Since its establishment in 1895, it has proven that long-term care systems are most effective when combining state responsibility with philanthropy, volunteerism, and community involvement.
“Darülaceze is a profound example of how compassion, rooted in social solidarity and public trust, can evolve into a lasting commitment,” stated Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, during a side-event at the 64th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development.
This event was co-hosted by Türkiye, Pakistan, Qatar, and Azerbaijan under the title — “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.”
Ambassador Asim Ahmad highlighted that Darülaceze’s ideals align closely with Pakistan’s own social and moral traditions, reflecting solidarity-based care within both public policy and societal norms.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s government-led initiatives, the ambassador mentioned the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as a key component of the nation’s social protection system.
He explained that BISP, funded by the federal budget, offers targeted cash transfers to millions of low-income households, particularly those headed by women, and serves as a crucial tool for poverty reduction, income security, and social inclusion.
“BISP reflects a clear policy decision: safeguarding the most vulnerable is a state responsibility and a matter of dignity and rights,” he affirmed.
Ambassador Asim Ahmad also highlighted the historical role of Pakistan ‘Bait-ul-Mal’ in aiding the elderly, women, individuals with disabilities, orphans, and people without family support. It provides services including residential care homes, medical assistance, rehabilitation, and vocational training through a mixed approach, involving government funding, zakat, charitable endowments, and volunteer contributions.
He also emphasized Pakistan’s globally acknowledged tradition of organized philanthropy and volunteerism, citing the Edhi Foundation as a global symbol of humanitarian service. Operating shelters, ambulance services, elder care homes, and emergency response units through public donations and voluntary efforts, the Foundation embodies community-driven care.
Ambassador Asim Ahmad further mentioned the expanding role of charitable trusts, faith-based organizations, and private-sector corporate social responsibility activities in backing long-term care and community-based social services throughout Pakistan.
He appealed for increased international collaboration to elevate solidarity-based care models from successful practices to universal policy, encouraging the United Nations and international financial institutions to focus on their documentation, funding, and scaling as key components of inclusive social development.
