Pakistan calls for stronger global action on social development at UN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday urged the international community to step up financial and structural support for developing nations struggling with social inclusion, warning that a lack of resources is holding back efforts to reduce poverty and economic disparity.
Speaking at the 63rd Session of the Commission on Social Development, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that despite decades of international commitments to social progress, inequality remains widespread.
He pointed out that 65% of the world’s population lives in countries where income disparities are growing, while 57% of people in these nations report distrust in public policies, making social cohesion even harder to achieve.
“We are conscious of how indispensable social cohesion is to achieving prosperity and sustainable development,” Ahmad said, adding that Pakistan has prioritized poverty eradication, employment generation and social inclusion with a strong focus on social protection.
He highlighted national initiatives such as the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, micro-financing schemes, universal health coverage, and e-governance reforms, aimed at improving public service delivery and economic stability.
Ahmad emphasized that the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha this year in November presents a crucial opportunity for world leaders to move beyond rhetoric and implement practical solutions for global social progress.
He called for stronger commitments to expanding social safety nets, noting that nearly half of the developing world lacks access to basic protections. He also urged greater support for labor rights, including minimum wage guarantees, protections for informal workers and equal pay policies, arguing these measures were essential for sustainable economic development.
Pakistan also stressed the need for greater transparency and accountability in governance, linking these to efforts to combat corruption, improve public service delivery and reform tax policies.
Ahmad further called for an overhaul of the global financial system to make it more equitable, pressing for comprehensive debt relief for developing nations and the reallocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) toward social welfare programs. He also underscored the importance of investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly for vulnerable economies.