Prince Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, the 50th Imam and spiritual leader of the global Ismaili Muslim community, arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for his first official visit since assuming the Imamat.
The six-day trip, running May 20 to 26, was confirmed by the President House. President Asif Ali Zardari received him at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, followed by a formal reception at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
What is the purpose of Prince Rahim Aga Khan's first official visit to Pakistan?
Prince Rahim Aga Khan is visiting Pakistan for the first time as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.
The six-day state visit, held at the invitation of the Pakistani government, includes meetings with senior officials, religious gatherings with the Ismaili community, and a review of development projects across Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
During the visit, Prince Rahim is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Zardari and other senior federal officials.
The Ismaili Council confirmed his itinerary covers both governmental engagements in Islamabad and community gatherings in northern Pakistan.
The visit has been described as carrying significant spiritual, cultural and national importance.
Which areas will Prince Rahim Aga Khan visit in Pakistan?
Prince Rahim will spend the majority of his trip in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Chitral districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He will remain in Islamabad on May 20 before traveling north, where his engagements are scheduled from May 21 to 25.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, he will visit Taus, Passu, Gahkuch and Gilgit across May 21, 22 and 24. On May 23, he is scheduled to travel to Upper Chitral, with Lower Chitral, including Parwak and Garam Chashma, planned for May 25. Authorities in both regions have finalized security and logistical arrangements.
The Ismaili Council confirmed Prince Rahim will not hold community meetings in major cities such as Karachi or Islamabad during this trip.
As a result, large numbers of Ismailis originally from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan have been traveling to their native areas to attend the gatherings.
Who is Prince Rahim Aga Khan V?
Prince Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini is the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community. He assumed the Imamat in February 2025 following the death of his father, Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, who had led the community as the 49th Imam.
Prince Rahim was born on October 12, 1971, in Geneva, Switzerland. He received his early education in Switzerland and later earned a bachelor's degree in comparative literature from a university in the United States. His father visited Chitral in 2017, and Prince Rahim is now making his own first visit to the region as Imam.
The Aga Khan network has had a substantial presence in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral for decades, running institutions across health, education, social welfare and other development sectors that have contributed to improving living standards in both regions.
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