• Calls for credible pathway to mobilise $300bn in funding
• Demands next conferences to focus on shared waters; stresses need to respect, uphold sanctity of existing treaties
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has called for urgent action on climate finance, greater cooperation over shared water resources and reform of the international debt system in the UN General Assembly’s Second Committee following the high-level political debate of the 81st session.
Speaking in the General Debate of the Second Committee on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Usman Jadoon, said the committee must focus on delivering tangible results on some of the world’s most pressing economic and development challenges.
Pakistan placed climate finance and water cooperation prominently among its concerns. The issue has particular significance for Pakistan, which remains highly exposed to climate-related disasters and faces substantial financial pressures.
On climate change, Mr Jadoon called for a credible pathway to mobilise $300bn in climate finance, including through grants and concessional financing. He also called for tripling adaptation finance and adequate capitalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund.
Pakistan supported Turkiye and Australia in their efforts to make the forthcoming COP31 a “COP of delivery”.
Mr Jadoon also called on the UN Water Conferences scheduled for 2026 and 2028 to address the full range of water-related challenges, with particular emphasis on cooperation over shared waters.
He stressed the need to respect international law and uphold the sanctity of existing treaties. The reference to existing treaties gives Pakistan’s intervention particular relevance in the context of transboundary water resources in South Asia. Mr Jadoon highlighted the wider financing crisis facing developing countries, saying the annual financing gap for achieving the SDGs is estimated at $4trillion. Pakistan proposed four broad priorities for addressing the gap.
First, developing countries should receive greater support in mobilising domestic resources through a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
Second, developed countries should honour their commitment to provide 0.7 per cent of gross national income as official development assistance, alongside tripling multilateral development bank lending capacity and lowering borrowing costs.
Third, Islamabad called for reform of the international debt architecture. Noting that Pakistan served as vice chair of the working group that steered the launch of the Borrowers’ Platform, Mr Jadoon called for an intergovernmental process on debt to begin without delay.
Fourth, it urged the international community to revitalise the World Trade Organisation, restore its two-tier dispute settlement mechanism and end unilateral trade-restrictive measures.
Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2026
