In Islamabad, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif hosted a breakfast in honor of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V during his first official visit to Pakistan, signaling a high level of political support for the enduring Pakistan AKDN partnership. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the long standing collaboration with AKDN and highlighted the network's contributions across rural development, healthcare, education, disaster resilience, climate adaptation, renewable energy, digital skills and youth entrepreneurship, with particular emphasis on Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. He urged expanding the partnership further, including stronger engagement with Aga Khan University, to accelerate human capital development and service delivery. The discussion on shared climate priorities framed AKDN as a key partner to strengthen resilience in vulnerable northern areas, aligning development work with Pakistan's climate adaptation goals. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for His Highness's visit, called Pakistan his second home, and noted the gratis provision of Serena Hotel for Islamabad Talks as a tangible example of hospitality and collaboration. From an analytical perspective, the event highlights a constructive model of public-private partnership that leverages donor expertise and local governance to address chronic gaps in health, education and infrastructure, while expanding opportunities in youth entrepreneurship and digital skills. However, sustaining impact will require clear accountability, robust monitoring of outcomes, and ensuring local ownership to prevent dependency on external actors. The planned deeper engagement with AKDN and Aga Khan University could yield measurable gains in human development if integrated with national strategies, accompanied by transparent reporting and alignment with provincial and federal development plans.

Source: Statement from @GovtofPakistan

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Published: May 21, 2026, 2:32 am