UNITED NATIONS, Mar 05 (APP): Speakers at a memorial ceremony in honour of Rafeeuddin Ahmed, a long-serving U.N. official of Pakistani origin who passed away at the end of last year, paid tributes to his humility in service, courage in conviction, and abiding faith in multilateralism.
Ahmed served many senior posts at the UN, including as Chef de Cabinet to the Secretary-General; Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Trusteeship and Decolonization; and Under-Secretary-General for International Economic and Social Affairs. He was also Associate Administrator at the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
The solemn ceremony organized by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN, in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) brought together distinguished diplomats, former colleagues, senior UN officials, friends and family members of Rafeeuddin Ahmed.
At the outset, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, who presided over the ceremony, described Rafeeuddin Ahmed as “a son of Pakistan and a citizen of the world.”
Flagging the event at an earlier UN press briefing, UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric eulogized his steadfast services to the organization, saying, “We will remember him for his intellectual depth and his efforts to ensure that the UN system works to meet the needs of all the world’s people – and he was always more focused on people than process.”
“Most of all, his mark will stay with this organization for a long time as he was a mentor to so many younger colleagues who followed in his footsteps,” Dujarric added.
Eulogizing his services, the array of speakers said that his leadership in various senior roles was pivotal to advancing sustainable development, economic cooperation, and inclusive multilateral policymaking. They agreed that what truly distinguished him was not only his professional excellence, but also the humanity that he brought to his work. They said that at every duty station, among colleagues at all levels, he was more than a senior official; a mentor, a steady and thoughtful voice, and a source of wisdom and encouragement to his colleagues and juniors.
Delivering opening remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad said Rafeeuddin Ahmed’s passing had left a void within the United Nations that would not easily be filled, and noted that his more than five decades of international service set a standard that those who follow “have much to live up to.”
Pakistan, he said, was greatly proud of Ahmed’s legacy, emphasizing that he embodied service rooted in diplomacy, dialogue, and the patient pursuit of peace.
Extending condolences to the bereaved family, the Pakistani envoy said the gathering was not only to remember the departed soul, but also to celebrate an extraordinary life and ensure Ahmed’s contributions are remembered and carried forward as inspiration for future generations.
He highlighted Rafeeuddin Ahmed’s inspirational leadership across successive decades, from humanitarian and peace efforts in South-East Asia and Cambodia, to assignments involving Laos and Thailand, Myanmar, and the release of a crew in Kandahar, and his service as Associate UNDP Administrator.
Li Junhua, UN Under Secretary-General of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), who spoke on behalf of the UN Secretary General, called for carrying forward the principles Rafeeuddin Ahmed championed — to strengthen multilateralism, uphold ethical leadership, and continue working tirelessly toward a more just, peaceful, and equitable world.
He said that for Ahmad, multilateralism was not merely a diplomatic framework, but a moral commitment to collective progress and shared responsibility.
His life embodied the core values of integrity, service, humility, and dedication to international cooperation, the Secretary-General maintained.
Speaking on the occasion, Zia Ahmed, the elder son of the deceased, thanked the Permanent Representative and the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN for hosting the memorial, and thanked his father’s former colleagues for the warmth and respect shown to him. He described his father as someone whose impact endures, not only for his professionalism and steady judgment, but also for the kindness he showed in every interaction.
He said his father carried deep institutional knowledge, met every challenge with careful attention to detail, and was known for offering solutions with calm confidence. Above all, he remembered him as a devoted family man who treated everyone with equal dignity, and said he felt profoundly fortunate to have had him as a parent.
Making moving remarks, Kamaluddin Ahmed, the younger son of Rafeeuddin Ahmad, said the gathering brought him comfort and a sense of closure, as he reflected on his father’s lifelong commitment to the United Nations and the values it represents. He shared that his father’s example, shaped by sincerity, humility, and integrity, influenced him from an early age, including moments when he accompanied him to UN meetings in Geneva. He noted that many remembered his father for a quiet, principled way of living, and said he hopes to honour that legacy by striving to follow the same path of service and character.
Haoliang Xu, UNDP’s Associate Administrator, read out a message on behalf of Gustav Speth, former UNDP Administrator who said that Rafeeuddin Ahmad combined warm human relations with grounded pragmatism, living the principles he espoused throughout his career. He said that he will be remembered as a diplomat who listened carefully in complex situations, created space for others to speak, and built bridges across cultures and institutions.
Naveed Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for DESA, reflected that three enduring truths defined Rafeeuddin’s life and service. For Rafeeuddin Ahmed, the United Nations was never merely a career — it was a calling. He did not simply work for the Organization; he believed in it deeply and lived its values every day. He understood that people matter more than institutions, and that true leadership is rooted in empowerment, not authority.
Shamshad Ahmad Khan, former Foreign Secretary and Permanent Representative of Pakistan, said on the occasion that at a time of uncertainty for the United Nations, Rafeeuddin Ahmad reminded us of his steadfast belief in multilateralism sustained the system. He said that the best way to honour his legacy is to continue building — with the same conviction, integrity, and faith in the UN that he embodied.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Munir Akram, former Permanent Representative of Pakistan, said that while Rafeeuddin Ahmad’s accomplishments at the United Nations are well known and widely acclaimed, to him, he was far more than a distinguished international civil servant — he was a mentor and a dear friend. He was the first person to advise him before he traveled to the United Nations as a Third Secretary, patiently explaining the intricacies of ECOSOC, and again the first to counsel him when he arrived as Permanent Representative in 2003, in the midst of a crisis between Pakistan and India.
Those unable to attend the memorial in person also paid tribute through recorded video statements and messages, including Mourad Wahba, Acting Executive Secretary of ESCWA; Ms. Shaikha N. Alnuwais, Secretary-General of UNWTO; Francesco Frangialli, former Secretary-General of UNWTO; Syed Babar Ali; Farooq Sobhan; Robert Piper, former UN Under-Secretary-General; Ambassador (Retd.) Hayat Mehdi; Simona Petrova; Fasih Ahmed; and Naseeruddin Ahmed and Amb. Shaukat Fareed Qazi.
A documentary depicting key moments of the veteran diplomat’s life was also shown on the occasion.