The Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1991/49, enlarged the membership of the Commission from 40 to 53 members, with the following distribution of seats among the regional groups:
(a) Eleven for African States;
(b) Eleven for Asian States;
(c) Ten for Latin American and Caribbean States;
(d) Six for Eastern European States;
(e) Fourteen for Western European and other States;
(f) One seat to rotate between the Asian, and the Latin American and Caribbean States every four years.
In accordance with Council resolution 845 (XXXII), and 1147 (XLI), members are elected (a) from among the States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies and the Parties to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, (b) with due regard to the adequate representation of countries that are important producers of opium or coca leaves, of countries that are important in the field of the manufacture of narcotic drugs, and of countries in which drug addiction or the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs constitutes an important problem and (c) taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution.
In order to function effectively, the Commission needs to organize and prepare its work carefully and in advance. Such tasks are carried out by the Bureau and the Extended Bureau of the Commission, which play an active role in the preparation of the regular and the inter-sessional meetings with the assistance of the Secretariat.
The Bureau of the Commission is composed of the Chairperson, three Vice-Chairpersons and one Rapporteur. At the end of its reconvened session, the Commission elects its Bureau for the next session. The Extended Bureau also includes the Chairpersons of the five regional groups, the European Union and the Group of 77 and China.
H.E. Mr. Khan is the Ambassador of Pakistan to Austria with concurrent accreditation of Slovakia. He is the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to UN and other International Organizations based in Austria since July 2018.
Mr. Khan was born in Lahore (Pakistan) in 1962 . He did his Masters at the University of Westminster (London).
His diplomatic career encompasses a wide-ranging experience, both in Islamabad and abroad. Ambassador Khan has served at the Embassies of Pakistan in Harare, Kabul and New Delhi, the last two in the capacity of Deputy Head of Mission. He has also served at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to UN, Geneva.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Khan has been in charge of administrative, bilateral and multilateral assignments. Before his appointment as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Austria and Slovakia, Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan was heading the Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey Division at the Headquarter.
