Asim Iftikhar Ahmad to take over as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN on March 31

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad will formally step into his role as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) on March 31, 2025, following the retirement of Munir Akram.

At 80 years old, Munir Akram has concluded a diplomatic career that spanned nearly two decades at the UN, during which he represented Pakistan across multiple administrations. His tenure was extended multiple times, making him one of the most enduring figures in Pakistan’s foreign service.

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad – who was recently promoted to Grade 22 – will replace Akram, marking the first time in years that a career diplomat rather than a political appointee has been selected for the position. Prior to this appointment, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad served as Alternate Permanent Representative to the UN, meaning that for the past several months, Pakistan had two envoys of equal status at the UN headquarters.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, an experienced career diplomat, brings extensive foreign service expertise to his new role. Before his posting to the UN, he served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to France and Thailand and as Permanent Representative to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

His tenure at the Foreign Ministry has also been distinguished, holding key positions such as Additional Secretary for UN Affairs and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With Pakistan having recently assumed its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) in January 2025, Ambassador Iftikhar Ahmad’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment. His leadership is expected to ensure continuity in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and strengthen the country’s position on key global issues.

As part of his farewell engagements, Ambassador Munir Akram met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who commended his remarkable contributions to multilateral diplomacy. In their discussions, Akram emphasized the need to strengthen multilateral cooperation, reform global financial institutions, and advance the sustainable development agenda.

Additionally, he held a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, where they explored strategies for supporting the Global South, addressing climate change, and enhancing the role of the UN in sustainable development initiatives.