NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said that Pakistan will remain a steadfast partner in efforts to uphold and promote the shared interests of the Global South within the United Nations and beyond.
Deputy PM Dar was addressing the annual meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of 77 and China on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dar praised Iraq for its leadership of the G77 during a period of “daunting challenges, yet important breakthroughs,” and commended the group’s unity on issues of significance for developing countries.
Highlighting the widening global development crisis, Dar said the financing gap for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) had grown from $2.5 trillion in 2019 to more than $4 trillion, with climate-related needs adding “several more trillions.”
He noted that over 100 countries were now facing debt distress while inequalities, climate disasters and geopolitical tensions were deepening.
“Even in such adverse conditions, our Group has demonstrated remarkable unity this year, securing substantial gains,” Dar said.
The Deputy PM outlined several priorities for the G77 in the coming year. These included ensuring the full implementation of the Compromiso de Sevilla outcome at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), strengthening the role of developing countries in new UN-led processes on artificial intelligence, and advancing negotiations on a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation together with the African Group.
On climate finance, the deputy prime minister stressed that equity and the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility” must remain central.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 participated in the G77 and China Ministerial Meeting on 24 Sept. 2025 on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly in New York.
In his remarks, the DPM/FM… pic.twitter.com/EKEd1jLIyn
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 24, 2025
Dar urged developed countries to deliver on their commitment of $300 billion annually in predictable, grant-based funding. Citing Pakistan’s own experience, he said the country was once again facing catastrophic floods just three years after the 2022 disaster that caused $30 billion in losses, despite contributing less than one percent of global emissions. “This injustice remains unaddressed,” he said.
Dar also underlined the need for reforms under the UN80 initiative to safeguard sustainable development mandates. “Efficiency cannot come at the expense of programmes vital to development,” he said, stressing that the process must remain transparent, inclusive and member state–driven.
The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with G77 and China. “The Group must seize these opportunities to advance our collective ambitions and aspirations. Pakistan will remain a steadfast partner in our common endeavour to uphold and promote the shared interests of the Global South,” he said.
