International Organizations and Pakistan
🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)
Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.
International Organizations — Key Facts for FPSC CSS (Pakistan)
Major Organizations Pakistan is Part Of:
| Organization | Full Name | Pakistan’s Role |
|---|---|---|
| UN | United Nations | Member since 1947 |
| OIC | Organization of Islamic Cooperation | Founding member |
| SAARC | South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation | Founding member (1985) |
| ECO | Economic Cooperation Organization | Member (from 1985) |
| WTO | World Trade Organization | Observer since 1993, accession pending |
| UNSC | UN Security Council | Rotating non-permanent member (1955, 1976, 2012) |
| NAM | Non-Aligned Movement | Member |
| Interpol | International Criminal Police Organization | Member |
Key Bodies of the UN:
- General Assembly (193 member states)
- Security Council (15 members — 5 permanent with veto)
- Economic and Social Council (54 members)
- International Court of Justice (ICJ — 15 judges)
- Secretariat (headed by Secretary-General)
⚡ CSS Tip: Pakistan served on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member three times: 1955-56, 1976-77, and 2012-13.
🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)
Standard content for students with a few days to months.
International Organizations — Detailed Study Guide
United Nations — Structure and Pakistan
Security Council
Composition:
- 5 Permanent Members (P-5): USA, Russia, China, UK, France (veto power)
- 10 Non-Permanent Members: Elected for 2-year terms by General Assembly
- Rotating Presidency: Each month
Veto Power:
- Any P-5 member can veto any substantive resolution
- Has been used ~295 times (US most frequent)
- Pakistan’s position: Supports expanding Security Council (both permanent and non-permanent seats)
Pakistan’s UNSC Membership:
| Term | Key Issues Addressed |
|---|---|
| 1955-56 | Suez Crisis, Hungary |
| 1976-77 | apartheid in Southern Africa |
| 2012-13 | Syria conflict, Mali, piracy |
General Assembly
Structure:
- 193 member states (all UN members)
- One country, one vote (equal voting)
- Resolutions not legally binding (unlike Security Council)
- Six Main Committees: Disarmament, Economic, Social, Legal, Administrative, Special Political
Pakistan’s Role:
- Contributed to peacekeeping operations since 1960s
- Peacekeepers: Pakistani troops served in Congo, Lebanon, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo
- UN Medal: Pakistani peacekeepers have received UN medals
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
Overview
- Founded: September 1969 (after burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem)
- Secretariat: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Members: 57 member states (including Palestine)
- Second largest intergovernmental organization after UN
Pakistan’s Role
- Founding leadership: Pakistan advocated for OIC’s creation
- Key concern: Kashmir (raised at every FM meeting)
- Human rights: OIC Human Rights Commission (CHRO) — addresses Muslim minority issues
Key OIC Resolutions
| Year | Issue | Pakistan’s Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Jerusalem (Al-Aqsa burning) | Supported Palestinian cause |
| 1974 | Recognition of Bangladesh | Supported |
| 1994 | Kashmir | Adopted resolution supporting right to self-determination |
| 2019 | Xinjiang/Cheen | Did not support — balancing with China relations |
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Overview
- Founded: December 8, 1985 (Bangladesh)
- Members: Afghanistan (joined 2007), Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Observer states: Australia, China, EU, Japan, South Korea, USA
Summit Meetings
| Summit | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1985 | Dhaka |
| 2nd | 1986 | India |
| 3rd | 1987 | Nepal |
| 4th | 1988 | Pakistan (Islamabad) |
| 14th | 2007 | New Delhi (India) |
| 18th | 2019 | Pakistan (did not attend — India-Pak tensions) |
SAARC Bodies
| Body | Function |
|---|---|
| SAARC Secretariat | Administrative support |
| SAARC Chamber of Commerce | Trade promotion |
| SAARC Development Fund | Financing projects |
| Regional Centers | Agriculture, Energy, etc. |
Pakistan-India Tension in SAARC
- SAARC has been effectively paralyzed due to India-Pakistan tensions
- 2016 Summit (Islamabad): Cancelled — India refused to attend after Uri attack
- Climate of distrust: Progress difficult without bilateral India-Pakistan improvement
🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)
Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.
International Organizations — Complete Notes for FPSC CSS
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
Overview
- Founded: 1985 (as RCD replacement — Regional Cooperation for Development)
- Members: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
- Secretariat: Tehran, Iran
- Focus: Trade, transport, communications, energy
Major Projects
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Transnational Railway | Turkey-Pakistan rail link (partially complete) |
| Gas Pipeline | Iran-Pakistan (IP) — stalled due to US sanctions on Iran |
| Motor Vehicle Agreement | For cross-border trade vehicles |
| Optical Fiber link | Regional telecom connectivity |
Trade Within ECO
- Limited intra-ECO trade
- Pakistan’s main ECO partners: Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan
- Transit trade through Iran to Central Asia
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Pakistan and WTO
- Observer status: Since 1993
- Accession process ongoing: Since 1995 (29+ years!)
- Not a member: Major trading nation not in WTO — unusual situation
Why Accession Delayed?
- Domestic opposition: Industries fear competition
- Agricultural subsidies: Pakistan’s farm subsidies may violate WTO rules
- Services trade: Want better market access for labor (natural persons movement)
- Bilateral negotiations: Must negotiate with all 164 WTO members individually
WTO Agreements Relevant to Pakistan
| Agreement | Relevance |
|---|---|
| TRIPS | Intellectual property — affects generic medicines |
| GATT | Trade in goods — tariffs |
| GATS | Services trade |
| Agreement on Agriculture | Farm subsidies, market access |
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan
Major IMF Programs
| Program | Period | Amount | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standby Arrangement | 1958 | $15M | First program |
| Extended Fund Facility | 2013 | $6.7B | Completed |
| Extended Arrangement | 2019 | $6B | 的程序 (ended early by Imran Khan) |
| New Program | 2023 | $3B | Current program |
Conditionalities
- Tax reforms: FBR revenue targets, broadening tax base
- Energy sector: Reduce circular debt
- Privatization: Sell state-owned enterprises
- Exchange rate: Market-determined
- Fiscal deficit: Target reductions
Criticism
- Austerity: Cuts in subsidies affect poor
- Sovereignty concerns: Policies dictated by IMF
- Growth vs. fiscal discipline: Programs prioritize stabilization
Commonwealth of Nations
Pakistan’s Membership:
- Joined: 1947 (as founding member)
- Left/Suspended: 1972 (after Bangladesh recognition, re-joined 1989)
- Currently: Suspended (2022 coup — Pakistan suspended from Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations)
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
Pakistan’s Bid for Membership
- NSG controls: Nuclear technology and materials exports
- India’s NSG membership: Supported by US, admitted 2016 (controversial — no NPT)
- Pakistan’s position: If India can join without NPT, Pakistan should too
- China’s objection: Blocks Pakistan’s membership (as it blocked India’s initially)
- Current status: Not a member
Key International Treaties and Pakistan
| Treaty | Pakistan’s Status |
|---|---|
| NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) | NOT signed (India, Pakistan, Israel are non-signatories) |
| CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty) | NOT signed |
| FMCT (Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty) | Supports, negotiating |
| Chemical Weapons Convention | Signed and ratified |
| Biological Weapons Convention | Signed and ratified |
| Ottawa Landmine Treaty | NOT signed |
| Rome Statute (ICC) | NOT signed (Article 98 agreement with US protects soldiers) |
⚡ CSS Strategy: Know the difference between NPT (which Pakistan has not signed, unlike India) and CTBT (which Pakistan has not signed either). This nuclear status is central to Pakistan’s international position.
CSS Examination Preparation
Key Questions:
1. "Discuss Pakistan's role in the United Nations and its Security Council membership."
2. "Evaluate the effectiveness of SAARC as a regional organization."
3. "Why has Pakistan not yet become a member of WTO? What are the implications?"
4. "Analyze Pakistan's position on nuclear disarmament and its membership in international non-proliferation regimes."
5. "What is the significance of OIC for Pakistan's foreign policy?"
Key Points:
- Pakistan is NOT a member of WTO despite 30+ years of negotiations
- Pakistan is NOT a signatory to NPT (along with India and Israel)
- Pakistan's IMF programs have been frequent and controversial
- SAARC has been ineffective due to India-Pakistan rivalry
- OIC is important for Pakistan's Islamic diplomacy⚡ CSS Strategy: For international organization questions, focus on understanding why these organizations succeed or fail. SAARC’s failure is always linked to India-Pakistan tensions; OIC’s weakness is due to divergent interests among Muslim nations.
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