Pakistan re-elected to the OPCW Executive Council

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The 26th session of OPCW Conference of States Parties held in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Hague, 5 December 2021 (TDI): Pakistan has been re-elected to the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The development occurred during the 26th session of the Conference of States Parties. The 26th session was held in The Hague, Netherlands, from 29th November to 2 December 2021.

Pakistan will remain a member of the Executive Council for two years 2022-2024. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office statement, the re-election of Pakistan is an indication of the country’s positive role and constructive engagements at the forum of OPCW. It also represents member states’ trust and confidence in Pakistan’s ability to render effective leadership and impetus to the work of OPCW.

OPCW: An Overview

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is an implementing body of the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Destruction of Chemical Weapons. It is also known as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The convention entered into force on 29 April 1997. It is the world’s first multilateral disarmament agreement.

Building of OPCW in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Executive Council (EC) is a principal governing and policy-making body of OPCW. It is composed of 41 member states. These members are elected by the Conference of States Parties, which is held annually, for a week, in The Hague.

The EC is responsible for supervision, effective implementation, and compliance of the Convention. Moreover, it facilitates the scientific and economic development of its member states in peaceful use of chemistry.

Pakistan is an active member of OPCW. The country signed CWC on 13 January 1993 and ratified it on 28th October 1997. Pakistan is serving on OPCW’s Executive Council since its ratification of CWC.

Furthermore, Pakistan is actively performing its duties as a member of the Executive Council. It regularly hosts OPCW routine inspections at relevant sites. The country is also contributing towards the fulfillment of the objectives of CWC. It has also consistently worked for the national implementation of the Convention.