Pakistan joined the United Nations on September 30, 1947. As a member of the United Nations, Pakistan is committed to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, in particular the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security as well as the pursuit of sustainable development and human rights for all.
Transnational organized crimes pose serious challenge to the international community. Pakistan is fully committed to combat transnational organized crimes in all their forms and manifestations, and is actively contributing to global efforts as well as policy discussions on transnational organized crimes at the United Nations and other multilateral forums.
Pakistan’s key areas of concern are Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) and Trafficking in persons (TIP), Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), Cyber Crime and Drug Trafficking.
Pakistan has taken a number of policy, legislative and administrative steps to check irregular migration and TIP. It is party to United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and acceded to Trafficking in Persons (TIP) protocol of the convention in November, 2022. We are also positively considering acceding to the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol (2000) of the same convention.
The growing trend of misuse of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for malicious purposes/Cyber Crime undermines international security and stability. In this regard:
Pakistan has a strong political resolve and policy of zero tolerance against any manifestation of Drug Trafficking.
Pakistan proactively engages with the UNCITRAL, in particular its six working groups which are tasked with the harmonization, unification and reform of international trade law in different areas.
In the wake its recent experiences in cases involving Investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS), Pakistan has deepened its engagement with Working-III of UNCITRAL which is seized with the reform of the ISDS.
Pakistan is currently an elected member of various UN bodies/international organizations, including the following:
Name of the UN body/international organization | Term |
---|---|
Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) | 2020-2023 |
Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | 2022-2023 |
UNESCO Executive Board | 2019-2023 |
UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP) |
2021-2023 |
UNESCO Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) | 2021-2023 |
UNESCO Intergovernmental Council of the Intergovernmental Hydrographic Programme (IHP) | 2019-2023 |
UNESCO Executive Board’s Committee on Conventions and Recommendations | 2021-2023 |
Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) | 2021-2023 |
Human Rights Council (HRC) | 2021-2023 |
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) | 2022-2024 |
Commission on Population and Development (CPD) | 2022-2026 |
Commission on Status of Women (CSW) | 2022-2026 |
Governing Board of the International Labour Organization (ILO) | 2021-2024 |
Committee on Contributions (CoC) | 2022-2024 |
UNIDO Industrial Board (IDB) | 2022-2025 |
UNIDO Programme and Budget Committee (PBC) | 2022-2023 |
Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (CNGOs) | 2023-2026 |
UNESCAP Governing Council of the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) | 2022-2025 |
Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) | 2024-2026 |
UNESCAP Governing Council of the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) | 2023-2026 |
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) | 2024-2026 |
UNESCO Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) | 2023-2025 |
Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) | 2023-2027 |
Established in 1964, the Group of 77 & China is the largest intergovernmental grouping of developing countries at the United Nations. The G-77 & China coordinates policy positions to promote the collective interests of the developing countries on a range of issues within the UN system. Pakistan has had the distinct privilege of serving as the Group’s Chair in New York on four occasions (most by any of the 134 Members of the Group). During its last Chairpersonship of the Group for the year 2022, Pakistan effectively led the grouping in advancing the economic and social objectives of developing countries in international development negotiations at the United Nations and beyond. Pakistan also led the Group in formulating and securing agreement on the urgent and systemic responses required to overcome multiple challenges, including on measures for financing recovery from the crises and achieving the SDGs; means of implementation for achieving the SDGs in the current difficult “decade of action”; action on major economic, financial, development and environmental issues; and historic decision for the establishment of the “loss and damage” fund.Currently, Pakistan is also the Chair of the Vienna Chapter of the G77.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) – a UN specialized agency – is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping. It is responsible for creation of a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted, and universally implemented. Presently, 175 countries are members of the IMO.Pakistan became a member of IMO in 1958 and has served on the IMO Council on different occasions in past. Pakistan is also a signatory to over 24 IMO conventions.Being a maritime nation with over 1000 kilometers long coastline and adjoining maritime zones with unique geo-strategic location possessing enormous economic potential, Pakistan attaches high importance to the work of IMO and remains closely engaged with its processes.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was established on 16 October 1945. FAO, a Specialized Agency of the United Nations based in Rome, leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO has 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union). FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. Pakistan became an FAO member country on 7 September 1947. FAO was the first United Nations specialized agency the country joined. The first agreement between FAO and the Government of Pakistan (GoP) was signed on 17 June 1951 for the provision of technical assistance in agricultural policy and planning formulation. Both parties have since been working very closely for Pakistan's sustainable agriculture development. FAO’s presence in Pakistan is governed by the Agreement between FAO and Government of Pakistan on establishment of FAO Representative’s Office in Pakistan 1978.Pakistan was re-elected to the 49-member FAO Council, the executive body of the Food and Agriculture Organization headquartered in Rome, on 27th June 2023 in the 41st Session of the FAO Conference. Pakistan’s will serve on the FAO Council for the three-year term beginning from 01 July 2020 to June 2023.Pakistan and FAO have a vast history of partnership and collaboration spanning over last 70 years – we share a history of rich cooperation in knowledge sharing and technical exchange. The collaboration with FAO has assisted Pakistan in further developing our Agriculture sector.FAO assisted the Government of Pakistan in building and strengthening the national agriculture infrastructure with the emphasis on irrigation – the lifeline of country’s agriculture system. FAO focused its efforts on poverty reduction, food security, sustainable livelihoods and rural development. It has partnered with the Government of Pakistan on research and development, training, extension services and strengthening of the staff capacity in planning and policy making. FAO has supported improvements in agricultural policy analysis, strengthened institutions. Enhanced integrated area development and expanded participation of marginalized and vulnerable communities in sustainable development.
FAO’s partnership with the Government of Pakistan is currently guided by the Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2023-2027, which sets out three priority areas:
Output 1
Output 2
Output 3
The World Food Program is the food assistance branch of the United Nations and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security. According to the WFP, it provides food assistance to an average of 80 million people in 75 countries each year. From its headquarters in Rome and more than 80 country offices around the world, the WFP works to help people who are unable to produce or obtain enough food for themselves and their families. It is a member of the United Nations Development Group and part of its Executive Committee.
The WFP strives to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, with the ultimate goal in mind of eliminating the need for food aid itself. The objectives that the WFP hopes to achieve are to:
World Food Program (WFP) is working in Pakistan since 1968. As per Basic Agreement between EAD and WFP, the Government of Pakistan may request assistance in the form of food from World Food Program for supporting economic and social development projects or for meeting emergency food needs arising from natural disasters or as the result of other emergency conditions.
WFP’s partnership with the Government of Pakistan is currently guided by the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, focusing in the following areas:
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Rome, was established in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. Seventy-five per cent of the world's poorest people - 1.4 billion - live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihoods. Working with poor rural people, governments, donors, non-governmental organizations and other partners, IFAD focuses on country-specific solutions, which can involve increasing poor rural people's access to financial services, markets, technology, land and other natural resources.
Pakistan is a founding member of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Former Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, was among the pioneers of the Fund who worked with dedication towards strengthening its foundations in its nascent phase. Pakistan has recently signed the Host Country Agreement with IFAD in June 2023.Since IFAD began its operations in Pakistan in 1978, its focus has been on combating rural poverty by promoting integrated participatory rural development. IFAD has been extending its loans to Pakistan on blend terms. Overall Pakistan is IFAD’s largest recipient country. The IFAD Executive Board reviewed and approved the country strategicopportunities programme (COSOP) 2023–2027 for Pakistan in December 2022. The overall goal of the COSOP is to contribute to inclusive and accelerated rural poverty reduction and enhanced food security in a gender, youth, nutrition and climate change sensitive manner. It is aligned with and contributes to national policies and strategies for poverty reduction and agricultural development, and anchored in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14. The COSOP is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Pakistan for the 2023–27
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