United nations: At the United Nations, Pakistan has proposed balancing the veto power of permanent members of the UN Security Council by restricting the use of this power and increasing the number of non-permanent members.

According to Radio Pakistan, the proposal was made by Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, during a debate in the General Assembly on the 'Right to Veto'. The Ambassador highlighted that the current structure comprises 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members, resulting in a ratio of 1:2. He suggested increasing the number of elected members to 20, which would create a ratio of 1:4, significantly shifting the power dynamics within the Council in a more democratic manner. This change would place the power to approve or block decisions in the hands of the majority.

Ambassador Ahmad pointed out that the Security Council, responsible for maintaining international peace and security, has often been paralyzed due to the pursuit of narrow interests and strategic rivalries among its permanent members. This has led to the misuse or abuse of the veto power, preventing the Council from fulfilling its duties effectively.

He noted that Pakistan, along with the Uniting for Consensus group, is fundamentally opposed to the addition of any new individual permanent members on an expanded Security Council. Ambassador Ahmad emphasized that the veto rights of the existing permanent members should either be abolished or severely restricted and should not be expanded.

The Ambassador expressed Pakistan's belief that resolving the issue of the veto is essential as part of the broader reform of the Security Council. He commented that while the veto might have been deemed necessary by the framers of the Charter in 1945, the situation has changed. The privilege, especially its misuse, now holds little justification in the eyes of the majority of UN member states.