PESHAWAR — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday met with the visiting spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, at the Lower Chitral Airport. During the high-level meeting, the spiritual leader assured the chief minister of fresh investments across the province. The encounter marks a significant development during Prince Rahim’s week-long visit to Pakistan, which is his first to the country since being named the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community last year.
وزیراعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا محمد سہیل آفریدی کی لوئر چترال ایئرپورٹ پر پرنس رحیم آغا خان پنجم سے ملاقات کے بعد میڈیا سے گفتگو!
آج چترال کا مختصر دورہ کیا، جس کا مقصد پرنس رحیم آغا خان پنجم کی آمد پر اُن کا خیرمقدم کرنا تھا۔ ملاقات کے دوران خیبرپختونخوا میں موجود سرمایہ کاری، سیاحت… pic.twitter.com/w9lIf9bTXe
— Yar Muhammad Khan Niazi (@YarMKNiazi) May 25, 2026
Key Highlights
- KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi met Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Lower Chitral Airport to welcome him.
- Prince Rahim assured the provincial government of incoming development investment.
- High-level talks focused on establishing an Aga Khan University and a state-of-the-art hospital in Peshawar.
- The chief minister highly lauded the socio-economic services of the Aga Khan Foundation.
- The visit is Prince Rahim’s first official tour to Pakistan since ascending as the Ismaili spiritual leader last year.
Collaborative Healthcare and Education Projects Planned for Peshawar
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Chief Minister Afridi stated that the interaction provided an excellent opportunity to highlight Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s economic potential, as well as the provincial government’s development goals and strategic initiatives. A major takeaway from the dialogue was the proposed establishment of an Aga Khan University campus and a specialized hospital in Peshawar. Chief Minister Afridi warmly praised the ongoing humanitarian and structural services of the Aga Khan Foundation, emphasizing that its institutional footprints have significantly uplifted remote regions of the country.
وزیراعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا محمد سہیل خان آفریدی اور گورنر خیبرپختونخوا فیصل کریم کنڈی نے چترال ایئرپورٹ پر اسماعیلی کمیونٹی کے روحانی پیشوا، پرنس رحیم آغا خان پنجم کا پرتپاک استقبال کیا۔
اس موقع پر بچوں نے پرنس رحیم آغا خان پنجم کو گلدستے پیش کیے جبکہ معزز مہمانوں کا مختلف شخصیات سے… pic.twitter.com/wWrTfNU0yk
— PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) May 25, 2026
The spiritual leader’s itinerary has combined state-level diplomatic engagements with visits to northern community hubs. Prior to arriving in Chitral, Prince Rahim visited Gilgit-Baltistan, where he addressed large community gatherings in Hunza, urging followers to pursue advanced education and foster societal harmony. Prince Rahim’s tour began on Wednesday with a formal reception by President Asif Ali Zardari at the Nur Khan Air Base, followed by a state banquet attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, where the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) reaffirmed its permanent commitment to supporting Pakistan’s national development.
