GENEVA: Representatives of 18 nations, including Pakistan and Bharat, attended the 13th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which opened here today [July 30] with an address by its President, Hernan Santa Cruz of Chile. The Council will sit here until Sept 15. Its agenda includes financial assistance to under-developed countries and problems of international trade.

A preliminary resolution urging increased and steadier flow of public and private capital from more developed to less developed countries was adopted by the Economic Committee of the Council on Saturday [July 28]. The countries represented on the Council, amongst others, include, Iran; China; the UK; the USA and Russia.

In his presidential address, Santa Cruz said the fundamental cause of inflation and shortages in the world ... was the switchover from peaceful endeavour to a vast war effort. This had been forced on a large part of the world by the hard facts of aggression and the necessity for self-defence... . He urged the Council to hasten concrete action on aid to under-developed countries — aid which had been under consideration by the Council for the last three years. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2026