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Rawalpindi: Dag Hammarskjold Medals were awarded to the families of 73 peacekeepers, including 8 Pakistanis in a solemn ceremony at UN Headquarters. Eight Pakistani UN Peacekeepers laid down their lives, while serving the cause of peace in hot spots around the world from March 2010 to December 2010.
Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Mr. Raza Bashir Tarar received the medals on behalf of the deceased families.
Captain Mohammad Tahir Khan (UNMIL), Lieutenant Shab Hamid Bajwa (UNMIL), Naib Subedar Mohammad Iqbal (MONUSCO), Naik Mohammad Saleem Akhtar (UNMIS), Naik Mohammad Riaz Khan (MONUSCO), Naik Itbar Khan (UNMIS), Sepoy Karim Khan (UNMIL) and Sapper Gul Sher (UNOCI) were martyred in the line of duty. This is the highest number of sacrifices given by any single country in the UN Peacekeeping operations during the last twelve months
The ceremony which marks the annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers also paid tribute to more than 120,000 military, police and civilians currently serving worldwide under the blue flag.
Pakistan is one the largest contributor to U.N. peacekeeping missions around the world, with 10,500 troops.
For more information, contact:
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)
Hilal Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 927 1605
Fax: +9251 927 1601
Email: ispr@ispr.gov.pk