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Saturday, March 16, 2024

Pakistan’s Ambassador Elected President of UN Commission on Trade and Development

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Khalil Hashmi has been appointed as the President of UNCTAD’s 11th session of the Commission on Trade and Development.

Ambassador Khalil Hashmi, Pakistan’s `Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, was elected as the President of the 11th session of the Commission on Trade and Development on Monday.

An official communique issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the commission is one of the key constituents on the UN Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), based in Geneva.

Pakistan to Preside on UN Commission

The UN Commission on Trade and Development is an integral platform to deliberate on major trade and development issues across the world.

The Foreign Office said, “Pakistan’s Presidency will provide an opportunity to share its experiences and to benefit from international best practices that help advance trade and development goals.”

The commission will deliberate the legal and policy matters with regard to trade and other commercial activities. The statement by the FO stated, “The Commission will consider reports on legal and policy aspects of trade, services, commodities, consumer protection and competition within the overall context of sustainable development.”

Read more: Pakistan re-elected to UNESCO’s executive board in Paris

The statement added, “It will also consider progress in research and analysis, consensus building and technical cooperation and discuss ways to strengthen multilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and development.”

“Election to lead the UNCTAD reflects recognition of Pakistan’s active engagement and its key role in the multilateral fora.”

Tweeting from his account, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva said, “Honored to be elected President of the current session of UNCTAD Commission on Trade & Development- one of key UN bodies on international trade issues.”

“Pakistan is an ardent advocate of open, free and fair international trade as a means to promote peace and prosperity for all.”

Earlier this month, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi was elected as Chairperson of the Annual Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

Ambassador Khalil Hashmi is a formidable diplomat who assumed the position of Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations on November 10, 2019. Before assuming this position, Ambassador Hashmi served as the Director-General United Nations at the Foreign Office.

Read more: Pakistan among top 15 countries reducing extreme poverty: World Bank

Ambassador Khalil Hashmi has made his country proud with his services on various portfolios, including the Director-General Arms Control, Director General for the European region, Director General for Disarmament Affairs and the Director for South Asian and Indian region.

He has also served at bilateral postings at the Pakistani embassies in Copenhagen and Beijing, alongside serving the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in New York as the Deputy Permanent twice, first in 2004, and later in 2012.