Kofi Annan asks Maleeha to continue on UN Advisory Board for Disarmament

LONDON (UK): Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi has been asked by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to continue serving on his Advisory Board for Disarmament Affairs for the fifth consecutive year.

Maleeha has been a member of Annan's Advisory Board since 2000.

Her tenure expired in December last and she has now been asked to continue until Dec 31, 2005, as her participation in the Board and deliberations has been highly appreciated.

Maleeha serves on the UN panel in her individual capacity along with the twenty other members from across the world.

The Board advises the UN Secretary General on arms control and disarmament issues.

The members of the 22-member Board, established in 1978, are chosen from all regions of the world for their knowledge and experience in the field of disarmament and international security.

Of the Sessions

In recent sessions and deliberations, the Board has discussed issues relating to nuclear dangers, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, export control, small arms limitation, conventional arms and the relationship between development and disarmament.

Meetings of the Advisory Board last year also contributed to the work of the High-level Panel appointed by the Secretary General which issued its report in December 2004.●