Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for renewed global commitment to sustainable and inclusive development, terming it the only viable pathway to durable peace and shared prosperity in a world facing intertwined crises.
Addressing a special event on “Sustainable Development: Pathway for Global Peace and Prosperity”, the prime minister said the world stood at a crossroads where geopolitical hostility, climate stress and technological disruption were converging into a single destabilising force.
“The defining danger of our time is not any single threat, but the combination of many,” he said, warning that poverty, debt distress, mass displacement and unresolved political conflicts were intensifying global instability.
The prime minister emphasised that sustainable development must be inclusive and equitable, leaving no one behind. “Development cannot be called sustainable if it excludes millions from the promise of a better life,” he added.
Highlighting the disproportionate burden borne by developing countries, he said nations contributing least to global emissions were paying the heaviest price in terms of climate change, economic volatility and debt distress.
The prime minister said the country contributed less than one per cent to global emissions but remained among the most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.
He also recalled the devastating floods of 2022 that claimed thousands of lives, destroyed crops and infrastructure, and displaced millions, adding that subsequent floods had compounded the challenges.
“These disasters erode human security at its core,” he said, stressing that sustainable development must be anchored in equity, justice and fair play.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the prime minister said the government had integrated them into national development planning, focusing on human development, education, healthcare, food security and social protection, particularly for women and youth.
He noted that Pakistan’s large youth population presented both a challenge and an opportunity, underscoring the need for investment in skills, digital transformation and institutional strengthening to harness their potential.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s consistent advocacy for dialogue, diplomacy and multilateralism as the only viable means to resolve disputes and prevent conflict, despite facing aggression and violations of international commitments.
He stressed the need to reinforce and reform the United Nations system to enable it to effectively serve as a pillar of global peace and cooperation.
Highlighting Vienna’s unique role within the UN system, he said the city hosted key institutions dealing with counter-terrorism, crime prevention, industrial development and the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and outer space.
Pakistan, he said, greatly valued its constructive engagement with IAEA, UNIDO, UNODC and other Vienna-based entities and remained committed to supporting their mandates.
He also underscored the importance of capacity building, knowledge sharing and technology transfer to ensure that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology benefited all humanity rather than a privileged few.
“Unaddressed digital divides will soon become entrenched development divides,” he warned, urging the international community to address the root causes of global challenges instead of merely managing their consequences.
Later, the prime minister attended a ceremony of signing of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) Pakistan 2025–2030, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Programme Pakistan, and a cooperation agreement between the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, while addressing the event, said Pakistan remained steadfast in its commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, recognizing the indispensable role of the United Nations in global peace, security, sustainable development, and the promotion of human rights.
“The mandates of the UN organizations in Vienna are closely linked to peace-development nexus, and Pakistan takes pride in its constructive engagement with these pillars of global governance,” he added.
He said Pakistan deeply appreciated the role of the IAEA in promoting peaceful applications of nuclear technology for global peace and development.
Further he said Pakistan was also committed to further strengthen its partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for strengthening the rule of law and countering crimes that drain development resources.
“As a driver of inclusive and sustainable industrialization, UNIDO is central to Pakistan’s efforts in poverty eradication, increasing sources of employment, and transitioning towards cleaner and more resilient industries,” he added.
Director General IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi said he had visited different nuclear facilities in Pakistan, including the last unit in construction, Chashma, which he said was quite impressive.
He also expressed the commitment to continue collaboration with Pakistan that will continue and get stronger.
Deputy Director-General of UNIDO Yuko Yasunaga said despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remained highly vulnerable to climate impacts. “The devastating floods of 2022 stand as a stark reminder of the scale of this global challenge,” he added.
He pointed out that climate resilience and economic resilience were inseparable and the development of low-carbon technologies and industries was essential to safeguarding livelihoods, promoting growth and strengthening social cohesion.
