United Nations (TDI): Pakistan has called for a stronger and more effective role for the UN General Assembly, emphasizing its importance in resolving international disputes and promoting peace amid mounting global conflicts.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, addressed the 193-member Assembly during a debate on “Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly”. “A revitalized General Assembly is essential to a revitalized United Nations,” he said, highlighting the Assembly’s unique position as the only UN body with universal membership.
The ambassador stressed that the Assembly’s mandate extends beyond debate, encompassing efforts to address the root causes of conflict and facilitate peaceful settlements through mediation and arbitration, in line with the UN Charter. He underscored the importance of fully implementing the Assembly’s resolutions, noting their legal, political, and moral weight as expressions of the collective will of the international community.
“All organs and member states must respect and implement these decisions,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad said. He reiterated Pakistan’s proposal to create a dedicated mechanism to monitor resolution implementation, supported by regular reporting from the UN Secretariat, describing it as a step toward greater accountability and effectiveness.
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The envoy also emphasized that resolutions remain valid until their mandates are fully executed, reflecting the enduring relevance of the Assembly’s decisions. Looking ahead, he urged the Assembly to take a central role in addressing emerging global challenges, from governance of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to sustainable management of outer space and global commons.
Ambassador Asim Ahmad highlighted the Assembly’s complementary role alongside the Security Council. “When the Council is unable or unwilling to act, the Assembly is fully empowered to assume its responsibilities under the UN Charter,” he noted. He also called for balanced attention to the UN’s three pillars, peace and security, development, and human rights, while streamlining the Assembly’s work to improve efficiency and avoid duplication.
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On leadership appointments, Pakistan reaffirmed the need for transparency, inclusivity, gender parity, and equitable regional representation in selecting the Secretary-General and other executive heads, as discussions continue regarding a successor for Antonio Guterres, whose second term ends in 2026.
