NEW YORK: Pakistan’s former permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Ahmad Kamal passed away in New York on Thursday. He was 85.

“We announce with deep sadness the passing of Ambassador Ahmad Kamal, an eminent diplomat of Pakistan who served as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York and Geneva,” said a statement issued by the country’s UN Mission in New York.

He leaves behind his wife Asma, son Omar, daughter Ayesha, and grandson Zain.

During his 40-year-long career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Kamal held diplomatic postings in India, Belgium, France, the Soviet Union, Saudi Arabia and Republic of Korea and had a decade-long assignment as a permanent representative to the UN in New York and Geneva.

At the UN, he was elected to many high posts, notably as vice president of the General Assembly, president of the Economic and Social Council, chairman of the Working Group on Informatics and other positions. He also served as a special adviser to the UN secretary-general from 2011 to 2016.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2023