Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V on Thursday expressed the 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 the longstanding bonds between Pakistan and the Ismaili community”.

The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to Prince Rahim for his generosity in making the Serena Hotel available on a gratis basis for the Islamabad Talks, it added.

Further, the prime minister extended heartfelt condolences on the passing of Prince Rahim’s father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. He paid tribute to the late Aga Khan’s enduring humanitarian legacy and his longstanding association with Pakistan spanning nearly seven decades.

According to the PMO, PM Shehbaz also presented a commemorative stamp issued by Pakistan Post to honour the late Aga Khan’s services to the country.

Meanwhile, Prince Rahim thanked the prime minister for a warm welcome extended to him and “expressed his desire to continue cooperation with Pakistan in various human development initiatives”.

Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V was named the 50th spiritual leader of the Ismaili community last February, following the death of his father, Prince Karim Al-Husseini Aga Khan IV, in Lisbon at the age of 88.