Geneva, Switzerland: The Chairperson of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Farzhana Naek, held a series of meetings with senior leadership of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) during her official visit to Geneva.
The visit marked Mrs. Naek’s first engagement with the headquarters of the two global humanitarian organisations since assuming office. Discussions focused on strengthening institutional cooperation, enhancing service delivery and ensuring the long-term sustainability of humanitarian operations in Pakistan.
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At the IFRC headquarters, Mrs. Naek met with IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain. The meeting reviewed ongoing organisational reforms within PRCS and explored ways to further strengthen its operational capacity. Resource mobilisation and financial sustainability were also discussed, with the IFRC leadership reaffirming continued support for PRCS in achieving its strategic priorities.
During a separate engagement, the PRCS chairperson held a virtual meeting with ICRC Director General Pierre Kraehenbuehl from the ICRC headquarters in Geneva. The discussion centred on expanding cooperation in Pakistan’s merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with particular focus on Khyber’s Tirah area and Kurram district.
The ICRC Director General acknowledged PRCS’s humanitarian outreach and highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s Restoring Family Links programme, describing it as a key initiative for reconnecting families separated due to conflict, migration and emergencies.
Commenting on the visit, Mrs. Naek said the meetings provided an opportunity to align PRCS priorities with Movement partners at the global level. She noted that the discussions reinforced a shared emphasis on sustainability, accountability and practical humanitarian outcomes, while underscoring the value of strong partnerships in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities across Pakistan.
In addition to meetings with senior leadership, the PRCS chairperson also engaged with programme heads and senior officials from both organisations. These discussions covered areas including climate action, disaster response, health services, migration, innovative financing, digitalisation, governance frameworks, ethics and accountability, cash-based assistance and community resilience.
PRCS officials said the Geneva visit reflects the organisation’s continued engagement with its international partners to strengthen cooperation, build institutional capacity and expand the reach of humanitarian services across Pakistan.
