New York, March 30, 2026(Kamran Raja): Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, today hosted a group of twenty students from Manhattan University at the Pakistan Mission, where he delivered a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan’s engagement with the UN system and its positions on key regional and global issues. Ambassador Ahmad underscored the unique value of the United Nations as the only forum with broad international legitimacy and trust, stating that despite existing challenges, it remains irreplaceable for fostering collective global action. He emphasized that multilateral cooperation is increasingly vital in addressing complex and evolving challenges such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that a wide membership of the UN views collective response as the most effective approach to tackling shared global problems.
Highlighting Pakistan’s perspective on UN reform, the Permanent Representative noted that ongoing efforts are guided by the Pact for the Future adopted in 2024, as well as the Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative aimed at enhancing the organization’s effectiveness. On United Nations Security Council reform, he reiterated that Pakistan does not support the addition of new permanent members, cautioning that such measures could deepen existing divisions and institutional inefficiencies. Instead, he emphasized Pakistan’s support for expanding non-permanent membership under the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) framework to ensure greater democracy, representation, accountability, and efficiency within the Council. The discussion also covered a wide range of global security and development challenges, including maritime security, food security, forced migration, water scarcity, refugee issues, and transboundary water cooperation. Ambassador Ahmad stressed the importance of effective multilateralism, local knowledge, and sustainable approaches in addressing these interconnected challenges.
He further noted that the upcoming selection of the UN Secretary-General will be a critical moment for the organization, requiring strong leadership to navigate rising geopolitical tensions and complex global risks. The session also featured a presentation by Ms. Saima Saleem, Counsellor at the Pakistan Mission, who briefed students on Pakistan’s contributions to UN initiatives, including peacekeeping and broader multilateral cooperation efforts. The visit provided an opportunity for students to directly engage with Pakistan’s Mission officials, gaining insights into the United Nations’ role, ongoing reform efforts, and Pakistan’s perspectives on emerging global challenges.