Islamabad - President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Friday that Prince Karim Aga Khan was rendering invaluable services for global peace and stability, brotherhood, tolerance as well as for the welfare of humanity in different parts of the world including Pakistan.

Talking to Prince Karim Aga Khan, who along with his daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan and a delegation called on him at the President House on Friday, the president said that Aga Khan Foundation was rendering commendable services in the fields of education, health and rural development in various parts of the country.

He asked Prince Karim Aga Khan to extend the development activities of AKDN in other parts of the country apart from Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan, which was agreed upon by the visiting dignitary.

The president appreciated the services of Aga Khan Foundation during the 2005 earthquake and noted that his Grandfather Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan was a very close companion of the Founder of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who rendered valuable services in the freedom movement.

While thanking the president for according a warm welcome upon his arrival in Pakistan, Prince Karim Aga Khan said that he was thankful to the people and the government of Pakistan for the warm hospitality.

He apprised the president of the future development projects of the Aga Khan Foundation.

He further said that his institution has devised a comprehensive strategy to improve the standard of education in Pakistan adding that in this regard, the Aga Khan Medical University will be transformed into a full-fledged university in which more academic departments will be established in line with the current requirements.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqn Abbasi appreciated the role of Prince Aga Khan for promoting peace and interfaith harmony among Muslims, and his valuable contributions towards social, economic and cultural development of the country.

Prince Aga Khan here on Friday called on Prime Minister Abbasi at the Prime Minister’s House.

He was accompanied by his daughter, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, as well as senior AKDN representatives including Hafiz Sherali, President Council for Pakistan, Sultan Allana, Chairman TPS and HBL, Ambassador Arif Lalani, Head of the Diplomatic Department, Seat of the Ismaili Imamat, Firoz Rasul, President, Aga Khan University and Iqbal Walji, Chairman, National Committee Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan.

He re-affirmed his support for the AKDN institutions in furthering their development goals.

The prime minister also presented a special “first day cover” consisting of six stamps illustrating the contribution of the AKDN in the country. The stamps commemorate 60 years of the Imamat of Prince Aga Khan.

Aga Khan reiterated his longstanding commitment to the development goals and improving the quality of life of the people of Pakistan.  He thanked the government for its support towards the work of the AKDN. The Aga Khan offered to build a university and a nursing college in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan in the capital city of Pakistan.

Later, the prime minister hosted Prince Aga Khan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan and the AKDN delegation to a banquet at the PM House.

Minister of State CADD Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, SAPM Miftah Ismail, SAPM Ali Jahangir Siddiqui, Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, and senior officials attended the meeting.