Prince Rahim Aga Khan V Arrives in Pakistan on Official Visit as the 50th Imam of the Ismaili Community
The visit to Islamabad brings together spiritual leadership, state protocol and development diplomacy. The meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari and the banquet at Aiwan-e-Sadr underline the long-standing relationship between Pakistan, the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network.
The visit of Prince Rahim Aga Khan V to Pakistan carries exceptional significance — combining spiritual leadership, state ceremony, the historical continuity of relations with Pakistan and the practical dimension of social development advanced through the Aga Khan Development Network.
Islamabad, Pakistan. His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V arrived in Islamabad on an official seven-day visit to Pakistan, undertaken at the invitation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is his first visit to Pakistan since assuming spiritual leadership of the Ismaili community as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, following the passing of his father, His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, in February 2025.
Upon his arrival in Pakistan, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V was received by the President of Pakistan, His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. The welcoming ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Government, including Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sultan Ali Allana of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, and senior representatives of the Ismaili community in Pakistan.
Banquet at Aiwan-e-Sadr and meeting with Pakistan’s highest state authorities
President Zardari and Prince Rahim Aga Khan V then proceeded together to Aiwan-e-Sadr, the official residence of the President of Pakistan. There, a guard of honour was presented, and following a bilateral meeting, the President of Pakistan hosted a banquet in honour of the Aga Khan’s visit.
The event was attended by 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. Federal ministers, members of parliament and representatives of the diplomatic community were also present.
This is not merely a ceremonial visit. It is a meeting point between state authority, spiritual leadership and institutional development work that has shaped communities in Pakistan for more than a century.
CSNN editorial perspectiveThe meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr extended beyond state protocol. The discussions focused on the well-established partnership between Pakistan, the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network, whose work for more than a century has contributed to the country’s social, educational, health and economic development.
AKDN and Pakistan: more than a century of development work
The Aga Khan Development Network has been active in Pakistan since 1905, complementing public-sector efforts in areas including health, education, rural development, culture, economic development, climate resilience and the strengthening of civil society.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is the Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the most recognised international development networks operating across Asia and Africa. AKDN’s work in Pakistan covers health and nutrition, education, cultural heritage, economic development, access to finance, early childhood development, climate response and support for civil society organisations.
Key areas of significance
Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral as spaces of spiritual and social presence
The visit also carries deep importance for the Ismaili community in Pakistan, which is present across different provinces and is particularly rooted in the northern regions, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. According to the official programme, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, other state representatives and members of the Ismaili community in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
In northern Pakistan, the work of the Aga Khan Development Network is especially significant in the areas of community resilience and disaster preparedness. The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat has prepared hazard and risk maps for hundreds of villages in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, helping local communities anticipate risks, prepare for crises and respond to emergency situations.
Historical continuity of relations with Pakistan
The significance of this visit also derives from the personal and institutional continuity of relations between the Aga Khan family and Pakistan. In 2024, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s highest civilian award, upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan in recognition of the Aga Khan family’s longstanding contributions to the country. The same honour was conferred upon His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV in 1983. Recipients of this distinction have also included figures of global importance, including Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela.
Diplomacy of development, responsibility and community
From the perspective of civil society, the visit of Prince Rahim Aga Khan V to Pakistan is more than a ceremonial event. It is an example of a relationship in which spiritual leadership, state protocol, social development and institutional responsibility meet within one framework.
Pakistan receives the Aga Khan as an important historical, social and development partner, while AKDN reaffirms its readiness to continue working for communities that require sustained support in education, health, climate resilience and quality-of-life improvement.
In a world where international relations are increasingly assessed not only through the lenses of security and economy, but also through the ability of institutions to support people in practical and durable ways, the visit to Islamabad demonstrates the significance of long-term social partnerships. For Pakistan, it is a confirmation of continuity in cooperation with one of the world’s most important development institutions. For the Ismaili community, it is a moment of spiritual and communal presence. For observers of public life, it is an example of diplomacy grounded in trust, public service and social development.
Editorial Source Note
This article is based on official and public-source information, including the Aga Khan Development Network announcement on the arrival of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Islamabad, the official communication of the President of Pakistan, and public reporting on the reception and banquet hosted at Aiwan-e-Sadr by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Principal references: Aga Khan Development Network, President of Pakistan, Geo News, Barakah.
Photo credit should be applied according to the specific image used. For the official guard of honour image, AKDN identifies the credit as: AKDN / Rahim Imtiaz Ali. For banquet photographs, credits may vary by image and should be copied directly from the original AKDN or authorised source caption.
