Its record on governance at home may be contentious, but Pakistan is seen favourably by the global community as a nation with potential to lead international efforts for development.
This week saw Pakistan securing seats in several subsidiary bodies of the 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), one of the principal organs of the UN focused on development.
Pakistan not only won its bid for membership of the Commission for Social Development – along with China and Kuwait from the Asia-Pacific region – but also was elected as member of the Commission on the Status of Women. In addition, Pakistan has also become part of the 20-member Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The country is also a member of the Executive Board of the UN Children Fund (Unicef), the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the UN Population Fund.
In addition to the Ecosoc and its subsidiary bodies, Pakistan is presently serving as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, the most influential and powerful organ of the UN, which is subject to criticism for its undemocratic structure by a large number of UN member nations.
In the past, both India and Pakistan expressed their support for democratic changes in the structure and functioning of the Council, but differed on the modalities of reforms.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said "principal organs of the US" instead of "principal organs of the UN".
The correction has been made.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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@Climp Jones: "Commission On The Status Of Women! What a joke. " They want to raise the status of all women of the world to the highest Islamic standards by making it obligatory on the pain of death to wear that hideous burqah. Now that is quite an undertaking and certainly not a joking matter!
Commission On The Status Of Women! What a joke.
Exactly, domestic affairs are contentious, hence it's time to improve! In regard to the Commission on the Status of Women, it's important not to preach water and drink wine. Many, many women in Pakistan still fall victims to acid attacks and have their lives destroyed by family members.
@Harry Stone: I think you should worry about your 79% Indian population which lives below $2 per day before you come and talk about Pakistan. You Indians are obsessed with Pakistan, it's gone from being amusing to downright disturbing.
Get a life buddy and start using your real name for a change. Choosing a white name won't make you feel white, no matter how much of that Whitening Cream you people buy in India. Sorry, try again "Harry" Potter.
@Harry Stone: So what part of Riaz Haq's statement was wrong? Can you refute the statistics he posted? Interesting how you trolls are so consumed with hatred and jealousy against Pakistan that you cannot stand a single positive reference to that country. You want to talk about Pakistan's problems? Do you think such nitpicking cannot be done with your own country too?
@Riaz Haq:
You have to be kidding. And just where does it rank in GDP, life expedency, standard of live, etc. You cannot even rid yourselves of polio.
But to your list you should also add the leading nation in the export of terrorism.
I've seen my Country helping and doing work for other Countries in world with max effort and in will of Good, this is a sign of Good Nature and Good Quality in my Country despite of all odds. But eventually I must also say that Pakistan should also look into its internal crisis seriously. I am very Happy with this report and if Pakistan do stabalize to itself it will have even more respect from the world accept bhindia with the title of "World's most Jealous Nation" Long Live Pakistan.
i've seen my country helping the world with full effort and in the will of Good, its a v.good quality in ma country n i love it but we should also see our own internal crisis so the world may respect us even more accept Bhindia with the Great Title of "World's most Jealous Nation".
In terms of its size, Pakistan is one of the largest countries in the world.
With population exceeding 180 million, it is one of only eight nations armed with nuclear weapons. The nation ranks as sixth largest in population, seventh largest in its army size, 7th largest diaspora, 8th in number of mobile phone users, 10th in educated English speaking population, 10th in labor force size, 17th largest in number of Internet users, 26th in economy and 34th in land area.
I think Pakistan should have far more influence on the world stage than it actually does today.
http://www.riazhaq.com/2009/11/is-pakistan-too-big-to-fail.html
well you can not keep away the sixth largest populated country on earth. Thats what I keep commenting....whether you love it or hate it.
@ Faraz
See the poster "Hedgefunder"? There's an Indian troll right there under your nose.
Well done Pakistan. Keep it up! :)
@Mujtaba Khalid: why do people like you have to bring India first in anything and everything (when there is nothing to complain about, no comments yet? It's in bad taste, we don't have to compare ourselves with India in everything, this will not give us a certificate of greatness.
i doubt whether it was a genuine mistake of using US instead of UN in the orgial version of the news or it was a pun we all know that UN is only extensions of US.
Well good score at international arena, but this would only be great if we can improve internally as well. FIrst address load shedding issue and then the population bomb!! these two are the most fundamental among all the issues!!
True..!! World knows our potential now its time to get united & come out as World's best & most important Nation...!! Pakistan Zindabad!
Good news........
Good that the UN finally gave due weightage to Pakistan's importance in the global forum.
@Hedgefunder
Why do you figure all the success on the international front and nothing at the national? Government doesn't like its people? They don't like votes? Isn't that the million dollar question?
Haters gonna hate.....So obvious what the Indian trolls response is gonna be....hahahah pretty amusing!
Start all the developments at home first, than enter the world stage !
"This week saw Pakistan securing seats in several subsidiary bodies of the 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), one of the principal organs of the US focused on development."
US or UN?