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Earlier today, Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif hosted Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, where they discussed topics of mutual interest including the programmes and activities of the Aga Khan Development Network in Pakistan.

During the breakfast meeting, both the Prime Minister and Mawlana Hazar Imam shared remarks.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to renew our relation with you, with your family,” said the Prime Minister. “Your father, your great grandfather, have contributed immensely towards Pakistan's well-being in more than one way.”

During his address, Mawlana Hazar Imam expressed his gratitude for the warm way in which he has been received in the country, and spoke of his aspirations for the future: “I'm also looking forward to continuing the work that we do together in Pakistan, and for Pakistan, for all Pakistanis, and carrying on the legacy of my father, my great grandfather, and with my colleagues who are carrying on the legacy of their fathers and grandfathers as well in this country. It's a history that dates back to the beginning of the country, and I can say for myself that I'll always be there as well, and my family will always be there.”

The Prime Minister presented a commemorative stamp issued by Pakistan Post to honour Mawlana Shah Karim’s legacy as a global visionary and humanitarian, and for his services to Pakistan.

Mawlana Hazar Imam is in Pakistan for an official seven-day visit, at the invitation of the Government. Yesterday, Hazar Imam was received at the airport in Islamabad by the President of Pakistan, His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari.

In the coming days Mawlana Hazar Imam is expected to meet with the Jamat in the Northern Areas of the country.

Photo credits: AKDN / Akbar Hakim

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presenting a commemorative stamp, to Prince Rahim Agha khan, issued by Pakistan Post to honour His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV for his services to Pakistan.

Mawlana Hazar Imam attended a dinner this evening hosted in his honour by the President of Pakistan His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President’s official residence.

Guests at the banquet included Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Forces Syed Asim Munir, Chairman of the Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Also in attendance were federal ministers, members of parliament and members of the diplomatic community.

The dinner followed a meeting between Hazar Imam and President Zardari, where they discussed the well established partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and Pakistan, including AKDN’s various projects and programmes across the country.

AKDN has been active in Pakistan since 1905. Its agencies complement the government’s efforts across health, education, rural development, culture, and economic development, and have received numerous national and international awards for their programmes.

This is the first time Hazar Imam is visiting Pakistan since 2024, when President Zardari conferred upon him the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the nation's highest civilian award, in recognition of his family’s longstanding contributions to the country. Mawlana Shah Karim received the same honour in 1983, joining a distinguished list of recipients that includes Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela.

Photo credits: AKDN / Rahil Imtiaz Ali / Akbar Hakim

Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Islamabad today on an official visit to Pakistan, at the invitation of the government. He was welcomed at the airport by the President of Pakistan His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari and his daughter First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. Also present were Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Information; Saleem Mandviwalla, Member of the Senate; Nizar Mewawalla, President of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan; Sultan Ali Allana, Director of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development; and a delegation of Jamati leaders.

President Zardari and Hazar Imam then travelled together to Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President's official residence, where a formal guard of honour was presented. Following a bilateral meeting, President Zardari is hosting a banquet this evening in honour of the visit.

In the days ahead, Mawlana Hazar Imam will meet with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and other senior government officials in the capital, before travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral to spend time with the Jamat in the Northern Areas of the country, home to a large concentration of Ismailis.

Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral carry centuries of rich heritage and history, set against some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. Once an integral link on the ancient Silk Road, the region today is a global hub for mountaineering and cultural tourism, known for its distinctive blend of traditions.

Across these valleys and mountain communities, preparations have been underway for weeks, with the Jamat planning, building, and celebrating in anticipation of welcoming their Imam.

Photo credits: IPL / Akbar Hakim