Pakistan was re-elected, on Tuesday, as a member to a key body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) after polling the highest number of votes.
Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi noted that Pakistan’s election was a clear recognition of Islamabad’s positive contribution to the work of the world body.
Through a secret ballot, 54 members of the economic arm of the UN decided the fate of Pakistan’s seat on the 18-member Commission on Narcotic Drugs for a term beginning on January 1, 2020, and expiring on December 31, 2023. Pakistan secured 48 votes to retain its seat.
Regarding the election, the envoy remarked, “We are humbled by the support we received from all regions of the world.”
“Pakistan ‘s strong showing in this election is an indication of the confidence of the international community in our country and its role and record in multilateral bodies,” Ambassador Lodhi maintained.
Since 2008, Pakistan continues to serve the commission, which was established in 1946. It assists the UN in supervising the application of international drug control treaties.
Pakistan has also made substantive contributions during negotiations on the draft outcome document of the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem.
In 2017, the Commission unanimously adopted Pakistan’s resolution entitled, “Strengthening International Cooperation to assist the States most affected by the illicit transit of drugs, especially developing countries, based on the principle of common and shared responsibility,” in its 60th anniversary Session. Pakistan also hosted a high-tier expert group conference on the theme of “Preventing Drug Abuse in Educational Setting: Fostering regional cooperation and Partnership” in Islamabad from February 11 to February 13.
The seminar was marked by the presence of experts from Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
