United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres joined a high-level roundtable hosted by the Pakistan Global Alumni Network in Islamabad, bringing the country’s internationally educated community into a conversation about Pakistan’s place in a rapidly changing world. The meeting took place during Guterres’ official visit to Pakistan from October 6 to 8 and included a 20-member PGAN delegation representing a wider community of more than 6,000 Pakistani-rooted alumni from universities across the world. Guterres’ engagement with Pakistan has deep roots, beginning with his tenure as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and continuing with his return as UN chief after the catastrophic floods of 2022.
The discussion covered the future of the United Nations and global geopolitics, climate change, population growth, artificial intelligence and the changing nature of work. Guterres spoke about Pakistan’s long contribution to the UN, particularly in international peacekeeping, its decades-long hosting of millions of Afghan refugees, and its efforts to deal with the effects of a climate crisis to which it has contributed relatively little. He also identified Pakistan’s young population as one of the country’s greatest assets. Delegates asked how his successor could keep the UN effective amid intensifying US-China competition, and raised concerns about the gap between the organisation’s authority and its ability to influence outcomes in conflicts such as Gaza, Iran and Ukraine.
Climate and demographic pressures featured prominently. Delegates noted that Pakistan contributes less than one per cent of global emissions while remaining among the world’s most climate-exposed countries, and that the country is adding approximately five million people each year, which increases the need for investment in jobs, skills, infrastructure and human development. Artificial intelligence was discussed in the context of Pakistan’s young workforce, with delegates asking Guterres how the international community can ensure that technological progress benefits developing countries and leads to a more equitable global future. They also asked whether the UN system could move beyond fragmented, sector-by-sector programmes towards a more integrated financing and support framework that helps governments prepare for climate, demographic and technological shocks before they become full-scale crises.
The roundtable came amid a broader UN engagement with Pakistan. During the visit, Guterres also toured the National Emergencies Operations Centre at the National Disaster Management Authority, where he was briefed on Pakistan’s move towards proactive, technology-driven disaster preparedness, including the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things technologies and advanced data systems for early warnings. He publicly praised Pakistan’s contribution to dialogue and mediation, including its role in helping create conditions for negotiations between the United States and Iran, and described the country as a source of solidarity and solutions. For PGAN, bringing global Pakistani talent into direct conversation with the Secretary-General showed the role an internationally connected knowledge community can play in shaping the country’s future, and the exchange offered a view of a country facing serious climate, demographic and technological challenges while also holding a large young population and a substantial global talent network.
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