Islamabad (TDI): On the last day of the International Young Diplomats School (IYDS), participants had a chance to learn about the work of the United Nations (UN) in Pakistan, in a session that was coordinated by the UN Resident Office in the country.
Representatives from various UN agencies, including United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) were there to interact with the young and diverse cohort of the IYDS.
Dr. Gulnara Kadyrkulova, Deputy Representative for the UNFPA, introduced herself and had a candid and interactive talk with the visitors, alongside the representatives of other UN agencies.
Dr. Gulnara, who is here in Pakistan since September 2025, traces her roots back to Kyrgyzstan, and her diverse portfolio combines being a gynecologist doctor, healthcare reforms, and statistics and demography as she now works in the development sector.
She shared her reflections on a variety of subjects, including the questions raised by the participants. “Young people is not a homogenous group,” Dr. Gulnara remarked as she thoughtfully unpacked the many layers of the UN system.
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Speaking of UNFPA’s agenda focus in Pakistan, she said the work encompasses maternity health, democratic resilience, statistical capacity building of government bodies, and more.
She was delighted about the adoption of the Child Marriage Restraint Act passed just recently in Punjab, and noted that implementation framework for the Act now is a task which will require extensive work.
Questions put forth by the participants invited Gulnara’s reflections on UNFPA’s work and presence in Balochistan, inequalities in general and gender inequality in specific, and the process of advocating for and putting in place a framework for family planning and population control.
“We need male champions,” she said as the conversation turned to patriarchy restricting women empowerment and placing women in roles that demand too much and give very little.
A leader must be passionate, assertive, and brave, the Deputy Representative noted when asked what essential qualities she believes a leader must have.
As the talk wrapped up, the cohort exchanged thoughts with the representatives of various UN agencies present in the room.
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The visit to the UN Office was part of the seventh edition of the IYDS, which is a flagship initiative of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS).
It seeks to support public diplomacy outreach of the foreign diplomatic missions based in Pakistan, and to give emerging leaders a direct exposure to the world of diplomacy.
The participants, hailing from diverse backgrounds and regions of Pakistan, appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from the ambassador.
IPDS typically organizes the Young Diplomats School once a year as a unique platform to engage with diplomatic missions, learn about global opportunities, and strengthen people-to-people ties. With each year, this initiative is gaining popularity among students and emerging leaders, all over Pakistan.
The curated visits seek to nurture the next generation of Pakistani diplomats and policy professionals while supporting the public diplomacy outreach of diplomatic missions based in Pakistan.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
