Pakistan calls for revitalizing the work of UN General Assembly to strengthen global governance New York, November 4, 2024: Pakistan has stated that the General Assembly’s deficiencies primarily arise from the inability, and in large measure, the unwillingness of some of the major member states to allow the Assembly to fully utilize its authority and potential. It said that the revitalization of the Assembly is a political issue and not one of process only. Speaking during the UN General Assembly plenary meeting on the implementation of the UN resolutions and revitalization of the work of the Assembly, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, acting permanent representative of Pakistan to the U.N., said that the General Assembly is the only principal organ with universal membership, adding that the only limitations arise from the primary role of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. Ambassador Jadoon said that the General Assembly has vast complementary and residual authority under the Charter in relation to the promotion and preservation of international peace and security. This authority, he said, is explicit whenever the Security Council is unable to act or is prevented from acting. He stated that since the Security Council acts on behalf of the entire UN membership, it should report more frequently and comprehensively to the General Assembly. Pakistan suggested that in order to enhance the credibility of its decisions, the GA should also establish a dedicated mechanism to monitor the implementation of its own resolutions. “As a first step, the Secretariat should be requested to submit, within a specific time-frame, reports on the status of implementation of General Assembly resolutions,” he said. Ambassador Usman Jadoon emphasized the need for the UN General Assembly to play a more prominent role in the development of international law. He raised concerns about the Security Council’s increasing use of Chapter VII resolutions to create international norms, noting that this bypasses the inclusive, democratic processes envisioned by the UN Charter. Pakistan called for future treaties, including those on tax, development, and environment, to be negotiated by the Assembly with the participation of all member states. The acting Pakistan UN Ambassador also stressed the importance of enhancing the General Assembly’s effectiveness in maintaining international peace and security, advocating for stronger coordination between the Assembly and the Security Council. He said that Pakistan welcomed recent improvements in the Secretary-General’s selection process, highlighting the need for transparency and compliance with the Assembly’s mandate. He further supported reforms to improve the efficiency of the Office of the General Assembly President and plans to submit a Working Paper to advance Assembly revitalization efforts in alignment with ongoing Security Council reforms. Ambassador Usman Jadoon reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to structured dialogues on accountability, transparency, and institutional memory in the Assembly.