Pakistan Elected to Social Economic Council of United Nations

Pakistan was re-elected Thursday to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the economic arm of the United Nations, for a three-year term, beginning January 1, 2008. Already on the 54-member council, Pakistan received 177 out of the 188 votes cast in the UN General Assembly to serve another term. The impressive vote reflects the confidence and prestige the country enjoys in the international community. Malaysia topped the table of the Asian Group, with 185 votes. First elected in 1954, Pakistan served the ECOSOC in 1965-1967, 1969-1971, 1974-1977, 1979-1984, 1986-1988, 1990-1992, 1994-1995, 1998-2003 and 2005-2007. In 2005, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram was elected president of the council. Of the ECOSCO’s 54 members, 18 retire each year. Seats have been distributed on geographical basis with 14 allocated to Africa, 11 to Asia, six to East Europe, 10 Latin America and 13 to Western Europe and other states. The 11 new members are: Cameroon, Congo, Malaysia, Mozambique, Moldova, Niger, Poland, South Korea, Saint Lucia, Sweden and Uruguay. They will fill the seats vacated at the end of this year by Albania, Chad, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Denmark, Guinea, India, Lithuania, Mexico, South Africa and Thailand. Besides Pakistan, Brazil, China, Iceland, Russia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, which are already Council members, were also re-elected. The Economic and Social Council is the principal organ coordinating the economic, social and related work of the various UN specialized agencies, regional commissions and functional commissions. As of January 1, 2008, the Council’s membership will also include Algeria, Angola, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cuba, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, the Netherlands, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and the United States.

Notes:
This year, the world is celebrating Golden Jubilee of the Imamat Caliphate of Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan (since1957) . The 49th Fatimid Imam Caliph, His Highness Aga Khan is the direct lineal descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) through his cousin and son-in- Aly, the first Imam Caliph, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter. Prince Aga Khan is the rope of love, wisdom and unity among interpretations of the Faith, and bridge of confidence between West and Muslims.Fatimid Heritage Foundation (The FATIMID), Geneva Peace Development Centre (Geneva Peace) and Mountain Girls Education Development Program (MGEDP) support educational development activities to enhance knowledge, inter faith harmony, peace and global pluralism. It works to promote a more secure, equitable and prosperous world in accordance with the vision of His Highness Aga Khan.The FATIMID is a Cooperating Organization with Development Gateway. Join DG commnities here.