In the hush of a winter morning, when the desert’s golden rays slowly unfurl across Abu Dhabi’s skyline, a circle of thought and dialogue gathered under the soft promise of human unity. The space was neither a summit nor a stage of rhetoric, but a majlis — an assembly steeped in tradition, where voices merge over shared values, as gentle as a stream meeting calm waters. Here, the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Majlis became more than an event: a reflective pause in the rhythm of global discourse, where leaders and changemakers sat in conversation about what binds us as people.
At this gathering of minds and hearts, Pakistan’s First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, MNA, was among the distinguished participants invited by the Government of the United Arab Emirates. In the warm halls of Abu Dhabi, framed by hospitality and history, her presence infused the gathering with a touch of personal reflection and a thoughtful reminder that family and community are often the quiet roots from which larger bridges grow.
The majlis — named for its alignment with the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity — carries a theme that echoes the gentle hope of coexistence, compassion, and dialogue that has animated the Programme since its inception. This year’s gathering bore particular resonance under the proclamation of 2026 as the “Year of the Family,” an emblem intended to celebrate the foundational role families play in nurturing understanding, continuity, and national wellbeing.
In a panel titled “Female Leadership at the Heart of Human Fraternity,” the First Lady spoke with a reflective grace about the legacy of her mother, the late Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, whose leadership broke barriers and helped foster community-rooted healthcare networks that now extend across Pakistan. In gentle tones she reminded attendees that trust cannot be built by instruction alone, but by listening, by continuity, and by engagement that meets people where they are — in households, neighborhoods, and everyday moments.
Drawing from Pakistan’s globally recognised Lady Health Workers Programme, she illustrated how resilience is woven through social fabric when public institutions and families engage in shared purpose. Vaccination outreach, community healthcare, and empathetic dialogue are not merely policies but shared experiences that bring dignity and connection to the lives they touch.
Her reflections were mirrored by other distinguished participants — from first ladies to former presidents and representatives of humanitarian foundations — all gathered to discuss what it means to foster unity amidst diversity. The majlis’s soft cadence of exchange offered more than speeches; it was an act of collective listening, where each voice added nuance to the understanding that human fraternity must be built step by gentle step.
As the afternoon sun softened and the discussions wound toward their close, there lingered a sense that, beyond headlines and policy shifts, there are spaces where shared stories and reflective dialogue can shape new possibilities — not as directives, but as invitations to embrace our common humanity with empathy and care.
Closing (Gentle Straight News) Pakistan’s First Lady, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, participated in the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Majlis in Abu Dhabi on the invitation of the UAE Government, attending high-level discussions that brought together global leaders and thinkers. The majlis, aligned with the annual Zayed Award for Human Fraternity calendar, focused on themes of coexistence, family, and inclusive leadership. During a panel on female leadership, the First Lady highlighted community-led programmes and the importance of trust and dialogue at the household level. She also underscored family and education as essential elements in shaping shared values among future generations. Distinguished participants from various nations joined the discussions, reflecting continued global interest in promoting human fraternity.
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Sources Reuters (not available for this topic specifically) — No AP News — Not yet for this event Associated Press / local press (APP) Zawya (press release) Geo.tv UrduPoint