By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary spiritual leader of the global Ismaili Muslim community, used his first visit to Pakistan since assuming the imamate last year to reaffirm the Aga Khan Development Network’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian and development work in the country.
The pledge came during a private meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday at the President’s House, hours after the prince’s arrival in the capital. The discussion was followed by delegation-level talks, according to a statement from the Presidency.
Prince Rahim’s delegation included Sultan Ali Allana, director of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and head of financial services at the Aga Khan Development Network; Shafik Sachedina, head of the Department of Jamati Institutions; Nizar Noor Mohammed Mewawala, president of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan; and Akbar Ladak, vice president of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan. The president was joined by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. At the conclusion of the meeting, the three presented a souvenir to the prince.
A formal banquet was later held in Prince Rahim’s honor at the President’s House. Among those in attendance were Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the statement said.
In remarks conveyed through the Presidency, Zardari praised the Aga Khan Development Network’s decades of contributions to Pakistan in healthcare, education, community development, climate resilience and heritage conservation. He reiterated the government’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the network “for the welfare and development of vulnerable communities.” Prince Rahim thanked Zardari for the warm welcome and “reaffirmed AKDN’s continued commitment to supporting development and humanitarian initiatives in Pakistan,” the statement added.
The prince arrived earlier in the day at Nur Khan Airbase, where he was received by Zardari, accompanied by the first lady. Children in traditional attire presented flowers. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials were also present.
At the President’s House, Prince Rahim was given a guard of honor. He stood alongside the president as Pakistan’s national anthem played. According to the Presidency, Prince Rahim is visiting Pakistan from May 20 to 26. The trip marks his second visit to the country since 2024, when he was awarded the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of the Aga Khan family’s contributions.
The 50-year-old prince, who is US-educated and based in Switzerland, succeeded his father, Prince Karim Al-Husseini, Aga Khan IV, who died in Lisbon in February 2025 at age 88. He has served on the boards of numerous Aga Khan Development Network agencies and chairs its Environment and Climate Committee. From Thursday through Monday, Prince Rahim is scheduled to travel to Gilgit-Baltistan, where he will attend public gatherings and ceremonies in several districts. He will be accorded the status of a state guest throughout the visit.
Preparations in the mountainous region have intensified in recent days, with federal and local authorities mobilizing significant resources. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam received a detailed briefing on logistics and security during a high-level meeting in Gilgit last Friday. Officials anticipate large crowds at four main venues: the Passu Cones area in Hunza, Gilgit city, Gahkuch Bala and Taus in Yasin. To accommodate the expected turnout, authorities are considering multiple sessions at some locations.
Security and logistical planning have been extensive. The federal government has been asked to supply a bulletproof vehicle for the prince. Officials have also recommended opening Babusar Road as an alternative route and keeping the National Highway Authority on heightened alert at vulnerable points. Additional measures include ensuring uninterrupted power supply in Upper Hunza and surrounding areas, arranging extra transport for visitors, and adjusting travel timings on key roads to ease movement.
The late Aga Khan IV was deeply revered across Gilgit-Baltistan for his network’s work in building roads, schools, hospitals, micro-hydro plants and small businesses that helped lift many residents out of poverty in one of Pakistan’s most remote and underdeveloped regions. Prince Rahim’s visit is widely seen as a continuation of that close relationship between the Ismaili imamate and the people of northern Pakistan.
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