New York, March 30, 2023 (PPI-OT): Madam Under-Secretary-General, my delegation expresses its appreciation to the honourable Under-Secretary-General, Ms. Melissa Fleming, to have arranged this meeting to update members of the Committee on the recent activities of the Department of Global Communication.

The rapid pace of advances in new technologies, particularly in digital technologies are having a major impact on the world, affecting all our work on human progress, sustainable development and international peace and security.

We note with appreciation here the work of the Department of Global Communication in developing a global code of conduct proposed by the Secretary General to promote integrity in public information.

This is an important meeting which will help us to assess how the rapid pace of advances in new technologies is impacting the world of information, as well as to understand what steps are needed to address the challenges and risks that you have just deliberated upon in your presentation, and more importantly, to delineate what actions are necessary to chart a best way forward. In our view, the global Code of Conduct proposed by the Secretary General is a good way forward that provides us a roadmap for member states deliberation. It has different elements.

The position of G77 and China has been best put forward by our colleagues from Cuba. I think there are important issues which have been mentioned. Pakistan aligns itself with the statement of the Group of 77 and China.

I would like to add that perhaps we can also create some synergy with a digital Global Compact discussion, which are going forward by ensuring that the Global Access for All nations organizations and individuals to the emerging technologies is ensured, especially for developing countries within the framework of this discussion.

One of the questions that we are raising is about capacity building, given the digital divide that we are facing and the challenges that we have referred to in regard to disinformation, the issue of hate speech. Islamophobia. xenophobia and discrimination and hate speech are all important elements which need to feed in in all those discussions.

Pakistan therefore emphasizes the crucial need for building capacities, technological resourcefulness, and access to trustworthy, factual, multilingual, and accurate information in particular to those who are in greatest need of accurate, trustworthy information to ensure their own safety and well-being. Another important aspect is the implementation of the SDGs.

This is a year when we’re talking about the summit of the future and the SDG summit. For developing countries, the implementation of SDGs is something very important and close to our hearts, we would like to see how the department will address these issues.

The Department must intensify its efforts and exchanges with stakeholders, including member states, think tanks, academia, relevant media institutions and the United Nations system. We urge the Department to expand its efforts to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation to address emerging realities and challenges.

Madam Under Secretary General, my delegation also notes with appreciation the recent activities carried out by the Department of Global Communications (DGC) in particular the launch of a United Nations website in Urdu, known as “UN Khabarnama” (United Nations Newsletter), reaching millions of people worldwide.

Against a backdrop of worsening weather-related disasters around the world, in particular the devastating floods in Pakistan in late August 2022, the coverage on Climate-related events, in particular the solidarity visit paid by the Secretary-General to Pakistan following the historic floods in that country also deserves appreciation.

To conclude, I would like to reiterate my delegation’s support to the Department of Global Communications. We also assure you of our full cooperation during the course of this Session of the Committee.

For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk