President confers Nishan-e-Pakistan on Prince Rahim Aga Khan

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the “Nishan-e-Pakistan” award upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan in recognition of his meritorious services and role in the development, progress, and betterment of Pakistan and its people.

The top civilian award was conferred on Prince Rahim Aga Khan at a special investiture ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr and attended by Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal ministers, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi, parliamentarians, diplomats, and senior officers.

The award was conferred on Prince Rahim Aga Khan in recognition of his leadership role in advancing path-breaking initiatives in Pakistan in commercial banking, microfinance, insurance, sustainable tourism, and the renewable energy sectors through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

He has spearheaded the establishment of environmental stewardship policies and best practices to address climate change. The Network has also enabled access to financial services for nearly 50 million people in Pakistan.

Later, Prince Rahim Aga Khan called on President Asif Ali Zardari, and the two discussed the role of the Aga Khan Development Network in Pakistan’s socio-economic uplift.

Chairman HBL, Sultan Ali Allana, and senior government officials also attended the meeting.

The President was briefed about the role and development projects being undertaken by AKDN in various fields in the country. The President thanked Prince Rahim Aga Khan for visiting Pakistan and expressed the hope that he would frequently visit the country. During the meeting, President Asif Ali Zardari underscored the need to focus on the country’s educational development and Prince Rahim Aga Khan for upholding the multi-generational legacy of the Aga Khan family which had enormously contributed to the socio-economic development of Pakistan. The Prince thanked the President for conferring upon him the award.