Pakistan tells the UNGA: a new weapons race is on the horizon

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has highlighted the renewed arms race and a resurgence of competition between major nations in the United Nations.
UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Abdulla Shahid informed delegates of his goals for the 76th session in his first meeting of the new year. Pakistan highlighted these problems.

According to Mr Shahid, to battle the Covid-19 epidemic, global health leaders must renew their commitment to vaccination equality and remove obstacles that are now preventing vaccines from being widely distributed.

Approximately 120 member states have endorsed the UNGA president’s vaccine equality campaign. Mr Shahid also wants to conduct a high-level gathering on February 25 to push for universal vaccination.

Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram reassured UNGA President Mr Shahid that Islamabad fully supports universal vaccination initiatives and would work with UNGA to facilitate and promote its realisation.

In addition, the Pakistani Ambassador to UNGA emphasised the need to keep in mind that discussions in the General Assembly “cannot be detached” from the rest of the world’s activities. He highlighted that global tensions, particularly those between major nations, have resurfaced. A new weapons race is underway, as new and old conflicts become more complex.

Ambassador Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan speaking on behalf of G77+China at Joint Briefing by the President of the @UNECOSOC & President of the General Assembly @UN_PGA @G77_UNHQ
20 Jan 2021 from General Assembly Hall @UN.
Watch 📺: https://t.co/BhNUont2rh

— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to UN, NY (@PakistanUN_NY) January 20, 2022

“The global community is called upon to recommit to the ideals of peace mentioned in the United Nations Charter, and work together in the spirit of amity to meet the challenges ahead,” said UNGA President. He did, however, concentrate on the

distribution of vaccines and global warming.

Several concerns were raised by the Pakistani envoy, including some, he predicted the UN General Assembly will have to address soon.

He added that the agreement for disarmament has died down. The formation of new military alliances is taking place around the globe. As a result, the United Nations is virtually absent from the rope.

“We need to consider how the United Nations can contribute to not an agenda for peace but the reconstruction of peace in this world.”

This reconstruction, he said, “must be built on the foundations that we have, the principles of the UN Charter, international law and the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and particularly the Security Council.”

“We cannot disregard the global and multi-dimensional dangers to world peace and security today and live simply in hope,” Ambassador stated.

The president of the United Nations General Assembly had emphasised the necessity of encouraging optimism and togetherness when describing his goals. According to him, global threats such as the pandemic, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and international turmoil must be controlled in order to preserve shared humanity and prevent further conflict.

The Pakistani envoy, however, reminded the General Assembly’s president that a stronger United Nations was necessary not only to debate and discuss the issues but also “to translate the conscience of humanity, the words which are spoken in these halls into concrete decisions and actions.” That’s what “would be a meaningful reform of the United Nations,” he added.

UN sustainable development targets have been overturned by a decade or more because of Covid 19 and climate change, Ambassador Akram said.