Pakistan-led resolution on assistive technology adopted by UN General Assembly

According to Mettis Global, Pakistan guided a resolution dealing with access to assistive technology through the United Nations General Assembly, and member states approved it by consensus. The publisher calls it the first document of its kind devoted to this subject. Its adoption, reported on September 3, 2026, is presented as a notable step in worldwide work to include people with disabilities and advance human development.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, presented the text and said it places assistive technology inside the broader development and inclusion agenda. He added that the resolution recognizes close ties between such technology and education, jobs, health, social protection and meaningful participation in society. These remarks were shared in a press release.

The resolution calls for sustainable and affordable access to good-quality assistive devices for everyone who needs them, and asks member states to draft national plans with priority product lists. It also encourages more research and innovation, better data gathering to inform policymaking, and procurement arrangements that broaden availability. Taken together, the consensus adoption signals wide international backing for treating assistive technology as a common priority across health, education, jobs and social protection systems.