ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to protecting Indigenous peoples’ rights, cultures, traditions and well-being on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
In his August 9 message, President Zardari said Indigenous knowledge had helped preserve traditions and understanding of nature, health and the environment. He said Pakistan must protect that knowledge for future generations.
The president highlighted the Kalash community and the people of Pakistan’s northern mountains. He said their languages, traditions and knowledge systems had enriched the country’s heritage for centuries.
President Zardari also pointed to constitutional protections for equality before the law. He said citizens with distinct languages, scripts or cultures have the right to preserve and promote them.
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Referring to this year’s theme, “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being,” he praised the role of Indigenous midwives in maternal and newborn care.
He said their work was especially important in remote areas with limited access to healthcare. The president noted that Pakistan ratified the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005.
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He also cited Pakistan’s 2022 ratification of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
President Zardari said Pakistan would continue supporting efforts to ensure Indigenous communities receive respect, services and opportunities to live with dignity and security.
