New York: Pakistan has called for increased international cooperation and financing to assist developing countries in constructing the infrastructure necessary to achieve zero waste. This appeal was made by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during the International Day of Zero Waste 2026 commemoration in New York.

According to Radio Pakistan, Ambassador Ahmad stressed that for nations like Pakistan, tackling food waste is an environmental, economic, moral, and religious duty. He identified lifestyles, behavioral practices, and broken supply chains as the crisis’s driving factors, necessitating a shift in societal values and food usage.

The Ambassador urged for comprehensive support enabling developing countries to access and implement technologies through enhanced international cooperation, technology transfer on concessional terms, and dedicated financial resources for infrastructure and system enhancements. He also commended Turkiye’s role in raising the issue globally and reaffirmed Pakistan’s backing of the COP31 President-designate’s efforts towards a fruitful COP31 conference.