Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Takes Charge as Pakistan’s UN Envoy

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Takes Charge as Pakistan’s UN Envoy

 

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Assumes Role as Pakistan’s UN Representative

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has officially taken charge as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, presenting his credentials to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday.

During the ceremony, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to multilateralism and the principles outlined in the UN Charter. In response, the UN chief congratulated him and extended best wishes for his tenure.

Ambassador Asim succeeds Munir Akram, who concluded his term as Pakistan’s UN envoy on March 31, 2025.

With over 30 years of diplomatic experience, Asim Iftikhar has an extensive background in international affairs and multilateral diplomacy. Before this appointment, he served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to France and Monaco and represented the country as Permanent Delegate to UNESCO from November 2022 to December 2024.

He previously held key diplomatic positions, including Ambassador to Thailand and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) from 2017 to 2021. Additionally, he has played a significant role within Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, notably as the Foreign Office spokesperson.

Ambassador Asim has been actively engaged in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts at the UN, having been part of the country’s delegation to the Security Council during its terms in 2003-2004 and 2012-2013, where he also served as Pakistan’s political coordinator. His contributions in human rights diplomacy include representing Pakistan at the Human Rights Council and leading national reviews before international human rights committees. He also held the position of Deputy Chef de Cabinet to the President of the General Assembly in 2009-2010.

Born in Lahore on November 27, 1966, he holds a gold medal in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Punjab, where he also received a gold medal for academic excellence.

Married with three daughters, Ambassador Asim is expected to play a vital role in promoting Pakistan’s stance on global issues, including peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights.

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