Young people are not waiting on the sidelines of history. They are already shaping the moral, social, and political direction of our world. They bring energy to institutions that often move too slowly, imagination where old assumptions have failed, and moral clarity at a time… pic.twitter.com/bqJi3Ad2Di
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) April 10, 2026
Remarks by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, During the Opening Ceremony of the Conference “Future We Want: Global Initiative for Young Leaders”
Theme: “Empowering Youth to Reinforce Multilateralism: Engaging Youth Leadership in Building a World of Peace.” Excellencies and young leaders,
I thank the Italian Diplomatic Academy for convening this important gathering and for bringing together young people from across the world at a time when the international community faces a defining challenge: how to restore faith in cooperation, strengthen multilateralism, and build a world that is more peaceful, just, and secure for present and future generations. This remains one of the central questions of our time.
2. We meet at a moment of profound uncertainty. Conflicts proliferate and persist, trust among nations is under strain, and inequality remains deeply entrenched. Development gains are fragile, and the promise of dignity and opportunity continues to elude millions. Too often, instead of dialogue we see division; instead of solidarity, indifference; instead of respect for law, the temptation of power without restraint.
3. In such a moment, multilateralism is not a matter of convenience – it is a necessity. Multilateralism is the foundational principle that global challenges – by their very nature interconnected, complex, and transnational – cannot be effectively addressed by any single country or a limited grouping of states. Today’s world is grappling with issues such as conflict, climate change, pandemics, and economic instability.
These challenges demand coordinated, inclusive, and rules-based responses. It is through multilateral cooperation, anchored in shared responsibility and collective action, that the international community can develop sustainable solutions, reinforce global stability, and ensure that responses are equitable and reflective of the interests of all nations.
4. Pakistan is an ardent advocate of multilateralism and a strong supporter of the United Nations. For all its imperfections, multilateralism remains the most legitimate framework for managing differences peacefully, advancing shared prosperity, and upholding the principles that bind us together.
It affirms that peace cannot rest on domination, that development cannot be sustained through exclusion, and that dignity and rights cannot be left to the whims of power.
At its best, multilateralism is the organized expression of our shared responsibility and humanity. To endure, it must remain anchored in international law and the Charter of the United Nations while responding to the challenges of our time and the aspirations of the new generation.
5. That is why your presence here matters. Young people are not waiting on the sidelines of history; you are already shaping the moral, social, and political direction of our world. You bring energy to institutions that often move too slowly, imagination where old assumptions have failed, and moral clarity at a time when cynicism is too often mistaken for wisdom.
6. Pakistan fully supports the role of youth in strengthening multilateralism. For a country like Pakistan, with a large and vibrant young population, youth are at the center of national life. We see our young people as a source of creativity, resilience, and hope, and believe their meaningful participation is essential for building peaceful societies, advancing inclusive development, and strengthening international cooperation.
7. This recognition is also reflected within the United Nations. The establishment of the United Nations Youth Office underscores the need for youth engagement that is meaningful and sustained. Platforms such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum provide important avenues for young voices to engage directly with Member States and shape the future of sustainable development.
8. The Youth, Peace and Security agenda reflects a vital shift: young people are not merely affected by conflict; they are indispensable to preventing violence, promoting dialogue, rebuilding trust, and sustaining peace. Peace must be inclusive and responsive to those who will live its consequences the longest.
9. The Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations reinforce this perspective. They remind us that our responsibilities extend beyond the present, and that the decisions we make today will shape the rights, opportunities, and peaceful coexistence of those who come after us. Young people are not only stakeholders in the future; they are among its clearest voices and strongest guardians.
10. So how can young people help reinforce multilateralism and contribute to peace? First, by defending the values that give multilateralism its moral purpose — championing dialogue over hatred, empathy over prejudice, and coexistence over exclusion; Second, by restoring trust in collective action, ensuring that institutions deliver for people and remain connected to lived realities;
Third, by advocating for peace rooted in justice and international law — rejecting conflict and violence and promoting peaceful settlement of disputes; Fourth, by advancing a human-centered vision of development, focused on dignity, opportunity, and hope and building inclusive, resilient and harmonious communities; and Finally, by upholding the principles of multilateralism – ensuring it remains fairer, more representative, and faithful to its founding ideals. Excellencies and young leaders,
11. The strengthening of multilateralism, strengthening this organization-the United Nations will depend on whether young people see in it a cause worth believing in and a platform worth shaping. If we are serious about building a more peaceful, just, and secure world, youth must play a central role. 12. Let us commit to a future in which the voice of youth strengthens cooperation among nations, deepens respect for human dignity, and advances the cause of peace. The future will not be shaped by fear or division, but by those with the vision to imagine it and the courage to build it together. I thank you.
