ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called for greater transparency, inclusivity, and consensus in the ongoing deliberations on the United Nations' UN80 Initiative, emphasizing that member states must remain at the center of all decisions concerning the reform process.
The United Nations has launched the UN80 Initiative, a system-wide reform effort unveiled by Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2025 to mark the organization's 80th anniversary.
The initiative aims to modernize the UN by reducing bureaucracy, streamlining administrative processes, and eliminating duplication across its agencies.
Speaking at the Informal Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the UN80 Initiative, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, noted that proposals under the workstream vary significantly in their level of maturity and therefore require a calibrated approach.
He stressed that the UN Secretariat should provide timely, transparent, and detailed information to enable Member States to assess which proposals are ready for consideration and which require further deliberation.
Ambassador Ahmad reaffirmed, "Any decision on the proposals should be taken by the member states through an inclusive process reflecting the consensus of the full UN membership."
Funding mechanisms
On Work Package 22 (prevention and peace support), Pakistan aligned itself with the observations made by the Group of 77 and China regarding Actions 49, 55, and 58 (information sharing between Secretariat and member states).
Addressing Work Package 18 (funding mechanisms), the ambassador sought clarification on how the proposed annual high-level Funding Compact review would differ from existing discussions held under the ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment, cautioning against unnecessary duplication.
He also expressed reservations about the proposed common portfolio framework covering humanitarian, development, and peace-building funds, calling for additional information on its practical implications.
Joint SDG Fund
Pakistan further requested clarity on the proposed changes to the Joint SDG Fund, questioning whether the initiative involved substantive reforms beyond a redesignation.
At the same time, Pakistan voiced support for recommendations aimed at reducing earmarked contributions and improving the demonstration of the impact of core funding.
On system-wide results management, Ambassador Ahmad said, "Pakistan remains open to a mechanism that provides Member States with a clearer and unified picture of results across the UN system, provided it remains light-touch, avoids creating additional reporting burdens, and does not duplicate existing accountability mechanisms."
