ISLAMABAD: His Highness Shah Rahim Al Hussaini Aga Khan V has urged the Ismaili community in Pakistan to remain steadfast on “Sirat-ul-Mustakeem”, uphold unity and peaceful coexistence, pursue lifelong education and maintain high ethical standards in business and professional life.
He further emphasized that the foundational beliefs of the faith are rooted in Tawheed, the finality of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Holy Quran as Allah’s final revelation. Addressing gatherings of the Ismaili community in Passu and later in Parwak and Gahkuch during his ongoing visit to Gilgit-Baltistan, Aga Khan V repeatedly stressed the importance of education, brotherhood, social harmony, compassion and collective progress, urging community members to contribute positively to the development of their families, society and the country.
“Our faith’s foundational belief is rooted in Tawheed and in the finality of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, and in Allah’s last revelation, the Holy Quran,” he told the gatherings, according to community representatives and participants present at the meetings.
He urged members of the Ismaili community to remain firm on the righteous path and continue serving humanity through peace, tolerance, ethical conduct and responsible citizenship.
The spiritual leader of the Ismaili community also placed strong emphasis on education, particularly education for girls, saying that learning should not end with formal schooling but must continue throughout life. He encouraged young people to acquire modern skills and remain prepared for future challenges in an increasingly changing world.
“Learning must be lifelong,” he said, adding that the Jamat should remain focused, work hard and develop skills relevant for the future.
He further stressed that the Ismaili community must remain united and peaceful and should continue helping one another as well as other communities for the collective progress of families, regions and the country.
Community members were also advised to uphold high ethical principles in business, careers and professional dealings, reflecting values of honesty, integrity and social responsibility.
Observers and community leaders described the speeches as carrying strong messages of unity, brotherhood, education, peaceful coexistence and national development at a time when Pakistan faces social and economic challenges.
Aga Khan also thanked the Government of Pakistan for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him during his ongoing seven-day official visit to the country. He appreciated the government’s continued support for the social development initiatives and projects of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Pakistan.
He also acknowledged and thanked the local administration in Gilgit-Baltistan for its assistance, cooperation and arrangements during the community visits.
His Highness Shah Rahim Al Hussaini Aga Khan V arrived in Islamabad on May 20 on his first official visit to Pakistan since assuming leadership of the global Ismaili Muslim community as the 50th hereditary Imam following the passing of his father, His Late Highness Prince Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan IV, in February 2025.
Upon his arrival in Islamabad, he was received by Asif Ali Zardari along with First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. A guard of honour was presented at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where President Zardari later hosted a banquet in his honour attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, senior civil and military leadership, parliamentarians and diplomats.
During the visit, he also met senior Pakistani government officials and members of the Ismaili community in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
The Aga Khan Development Network has been working in Pakistan for more than a century across health, education, rural development, cultural preservation, climate resilience and economic development sectors. The Ismaili community in Pakistan is widely recognized for its contributions to voluntary service, education, social welfare and community development across the country.
