International Year of the Potato relationship that exists between poverty, food security, malnutrition and the potential contribution of the potato to defeating hunger." This was one of many international observances declared for specific days, months and years. The year 2008 was shared with the International Year of Sanitation. It was hoped that International Year designation will do for the potato what the International Year of Rice (2004) did for that food staple, namely, inspire exhibits, educational programs, films, publications and greater public awareness of multi-national efforts on behalf of our food resources. The year 2008 was also designated the National Year of the Potato in
Pakistan and the United Nations the UN, which is currently headed by Ambassador Maliha Lodhi in New York. There is a second mission based at the UNO office in Geneva, Switzerland. Pakistan participates in all of the UN’s specialized agencies. These include: United Nations Development program (UNDP), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations High Commission for refugees (UNHCR) , and UN Habitat. The Pakistani military has played a key role in the UN's peacekeeping