Pakistan elected to UN body ECOSOC for three-year term

NEW YORK: Pakistan has been elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council for a three-year term starting January 1, 2019 during elections held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson, Pakistan secured 175 votes out of a total of 186 votes cast and is one of the four countries elected to this important body from the Asia Pacific region.

He said that Pakistan’s election is an endorsement and reaffirmation of the constructive leadership in these important areas and its role as an ardent advocate of dialogue and cooperation.

He further said said Pakistan’s membership comes at an important juncture as the United Nations heads towards the mid-term review of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The spokesperson said that Pakistan will continue constructive engagement with member states, members of the council and the international community to facilitate the implementation of the SDGs in a balanced, equitable and responsible manner.

Pakistan has previously served on the ECOSOC on various occasions and has been re-elected following a mandatory break year in 2018, after having served two consecutive terms from 2012-14 and 2015-17.

ECOSOC is one of the principal organs of the UN mandated with the important tasks of coordination, policy review and formulating recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as for implementation of all important SDGs.

ECOSOC serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the UN system. The council has 54 member countries which are elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly.

Pakistan has just won a seat on the 54 member United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)after receiving 175 votes out of 186 member states present and voting in the General Assembly Pakistan won 94 per cent of the votes of the UN membership

— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) June 13, 2018