Pakistan elected to UNIDO's policy making bodies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been elected to the main policy making organs of the UN specialised agency United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The decision was taken during the 17th Session of the general conference held in Vienna, Austria from 27 November to December 1.

These include the Industrial Development Board (IDB) for another four years term 2018-2021 and the Program and Budget Committee (PBC) for two years term 2018-2019.

In addition, Pakistan’s Ambassador in Vienna Ms. Ayesha Riyaz was also elected as the Vice-President of the General Conference.

Pakistan has served on the 53-member IDB for 24 years (1986-1987, 1992-2011, 2014-2017), and has also been on the 27-member PBC for 16 years (1998-1999 and 2002-2015).

According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan’s election to the UNIDO policymaking organs is a further demonstration of the international community’s confidence in Pakistan’s credentials at multilateral forums.

Pakistan enjoys an excellent relationship with UNIDO. The year 2018 will mark fifty years of Pakistan-UNIDO fruitful cooperation.

The Foreign Office said that Pakistan will continue cooperating with UNIDO in achieving the targets set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It stated that for developing nations like Pakistan, inclusive and sustainable industrialisation plays a pivotal role not only in economic but also in social development, through job creation that reduces poverty and helps decrease inequalities.