ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday called for the respect for international law and meaningful progress in peaceful settlement of disputes at Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) annual hearing, in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Charter and Security Council resolutions.

Held under the theme ‘Parliaments and the United Nations: Better together, delivering for the people,’ the 2026 IPU annual hearing on Feb. 12-13 focused on advancing peace, sustainable development, democratic governance, and effective multilateralism, including contributions to the UN’s Pact for the Future and broader reform efforts.

Pakistani Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, who was leading a six-member parliamentary delegation, delivered the national statement at the IPU annual hearing at the UN headquarters, calling for democratic, transparent, and accountable decision-making in order to enhance the UN’s credibility, according to the Senate of Pakistan.

“Parliaments are indispensable partners in ensuring national ownership of international commitments,” he was quoted as saying by the Senate. “Reform is essential. But it must be ‘Reform for All, Privilege for None’.”

The Senate chairman highlighted the continuing importance of the United Nations as the cornerstone of multilateral cooperation, stressing that the organization’s universal membership and Charter-based mandate remain central to promoting global peace and security.

“Overlapping crises, including climate change, violent conflicts, and growing social and economic inequalities, continue to challenge the UN’s ability to deliver,” he said. “These pressures disproportionately affect the Global South, eroding hard-won development gains.”

He underscored that no single nation could address these systemic challenges alone, calling for renewed trust in the UN that must be rooted in strengthened multilateral cooperation, backed by adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing to enable the organization to fulfill its mandates effectively.