Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, the spiritual leader of Shia Ismailis, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The discussion focused on the cooperation between Pakistan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and explored opportunities for further collaboration.
During the meeting, the prime minister warmly welcomed Prince Rahim and recalled their previous encounter during the prince’s visit to Pakistan earlier this year. Shehbaz Sharif expressed appreciation for Prince Rahim’s dedication to sustaining the longstanding positive relationship between Pakistan and the AKDN. He reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with the prince to promote shared goals of peace, stability, and development.
The prime minister also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Ismaili community to Pakistan’s socio-economic progress, emphasizing their tradition of service and civic involvement. He praised AKDN institutions for their role in advancing financial inclusion, tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and economic empowerment through engagement with local communities.
Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the importance of leveraging existing opportunities to deepen cooperation in these sectors to foster sustainable and inclusive development across Pakistan.
In response, Prince Rahim expressed gratitude for the prime minister’s warm remarks and commended his efforts to promote regional peace and stability amid ongoing conflicts in the broader region. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening the enduring partnership between Pakistan and the AKDN and expressed a strong interest in expanding collaboration in areas such as human development, health, education, climate resilience, and sustainable socio-economic growth.
In a significant development, the prime minister invited Prince Rahim to visit Pakistan regularly to further reinforce and deepen the historic bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two parties.
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