Pakistan secures seat at key UN body

Pakistan secured a seat at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a period of three years starting from January 2024, reported state owned agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). 

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram told APP that the country will now be able to contribute to developing consensus on measures for recovery from the current economic crises and revive the prospects of achieving the sustainable development goals.

“This is a recognition for Pakistan’s positive role in international democracy,” he said.

ECOSOC is responsible for coordinating the work of 14 UN agencies and serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and policy outcomes. It aims to promote international cultural and educational cooperation, and uphold fundamental human rights.

Pakistan was competing for 1 of 3 Asian seats, and received 129 votes out of the 193 members of the balloting UN General Assembly. The remaining seats were filled out by Japan (127 votes) and Nepal (145 votes).  Previously, Pakistan has served ECOSOC ten times, most recently in 2020. 

Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari congratulated the fruitful efforts of the team, commenting that “this is a great success of Pakistan in the United Nations,” the report says.