At breakfast meeting hosted by PM, Aga Khan expresses desire to continue cooperation with Pakistan

Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V on Thursday expressed desire to continue cooperation with Pakistan in various human development initiatives during a breakfast meeting hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. Prince Rahim is undertaking his first visit to Pakistan since being named the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community last year. According to a statement by the PMO, the premier warmly welcomed Prince Rahim and appreciated his commitment to fostering peace, stability, and constructive engagement with governments and international partners. The prime minister also assured him of Pakistan’s shared commitment to these ideals. PM Shehbaz also highlighted the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and commended the organisation’s contributions in rural development, healthcare, education, disaster resilience, climate adaptation, renewable energy, digital skills training, and youth entrepreneurship, it said. He particularly appreciated AKDN’s impactful work in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Chitral, especially in remote and vulnerable communities. “The prime minister encouraged AKDN to deepen and expand its partnership with Pakistan, particularly in GB and Chitral, where the network’s institutional presence and community outreach are highly valued. He also welcomed enhanced engagement with Aga Khan University, noting its major contributions in healthcare and higher education,” the PMO statement added. Recognising Prince Rahim’s advocacy for environmental stewardship, the prime minister emphasised that AKDN remained a “natural and trusted partner in Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience, particularly in glacially vulnerable northern areas”. The statement added that PM Shehbaz thanked Prince Rahim for visiting Pakistan and assured him that the country would always remain his second home. The premier expressed the hope that his “regular visits would further strengthen th