Ismaili Spiritual Leader Prince Rahim Aga Khan Visits Pakistan
Prince Rahim Aga Khan arrived in Pakistan for an official visit, engaging in high-level meetings with the country’s top civil and military leadership. Upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase, he was received by President Asif Ali Zardari. He was later presented with a guard of honour at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where the president hosted a dinner attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.
In a separate breakfast ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed Prince Rahim on his first visit to the country since being named the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community. The prime minister appreciated his commitment to fostering peace and stability and assured him of Pakistan’s shared commitment to these ideals. Both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, focusing on the long-standing partnership between Pakistan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
The prime minister commended the extensive development and social welfare contributions of the AKDN across Pakistan. He praised the network’s impactful work in rural development, healthcare, education, disaster resilience, climate adaptation, renewable energy, digital skills training, and youth entrepreneurship. Mr. Sharif particularly highlighted the AKDN’s significant contributions in the remote and vulnerable communities of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, encouraging the network to deepen and expand its partnership in these regions.
Recognising Prince Rahim’s advocacy for environmental stewardship, the prime minister identified the AKDN as a “natural and trusted partner” in Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience, especially in the glacially vulnerable northern areas. He also welcomed enhanced engagement with the Aga Khan University for its major contributions to healthcare and higher education. The prime minister also thanked Prince Rahim for his generosity in making the Serena Hotel available on a gratis basis for the Islamabad Talks.
During their meeting, the prime minister extended heartfelt condolences on the passing of Prince Rahim’s father, the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, paying tribute to his seven-decade-long association with Pakistan and his enduring humanitarian legacy. In recognition of these services, Mr. Sharif presented a commemorative postage stamp issued by Pakistan Post in his honour. The prime minister assured Prince Rahim that Pakistan would always be his second home, expressing hope that regular visits would strengthen ties with the Ismaili community. In response, Prince Rahim thanked the leadership for the warm reception and expressed his desire to continue cooperation with Pakistan in various human development initiatives.
