Table of Contents
Pakistan is preparing to welcome His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V on a highly anticipated official visit from May 20 to May 26, 2026. The visit carries deep spiritual meaning for the Ismaili Muslim community, especially in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, where thousands of followers are expected to participate in religious gatherings known as Didar. Official Ismaili announcements state that the visit is taking place at the invitation of the Government of Pakistan and will include meetings with the Jamat in northern Pakistan and with government officials in Islamabad.
Beyond its religious importance, the visit is also nationally significant. It highlights the long-standing relationship between Pakistan, the Ismaili Imamat, and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a partnership rooted in education, healthcare, rural development, infrastructure, climate resilience, and community uplift.
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V is the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. He succeeded his late father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, after the unsealing of the will in Lisbon on February 5, 2025. AKDN states that Ismailis have been led by a living hereditary Imam throughout their 1,400-year history, and today live in more than 35 countries.
Before becoming Imam, Prince Rahim had already played a major role in the governance and global work of the Aga Khan Development Network. He chaired the AKDN Environment and Climate Committee and held leadership roles in economic development and social progress. His contributions to Pakistan were formally recognized on June 7, 2024, when President Asif Ali Zardari conferred upon him the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian award, at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. The official AKDN release says the award recognized his leadership and long-standing work to improve the quality of life in Pakistan and other resource-constrained regions.
The 2026 Pakistan visit has three major dimensions: spiritual, diplomatic, and developmental. The spiritual purpose is central. Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is expected to meet Ismaili followers in Gilgit, Hunza, Ishkoman, Gupis, Yasen, and Chitral, where Didar gatherings will bring together the Jamat from northern Pakistan. Local reports indicate that followers in these regions have been preparing with great enthusiasm, particularly in areas where designated Didargahs are being arranged.
The visit also includes official meetings in Islamabad. According to reported schedules, Prince Rahim Aga Khan is expected to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister on May 20, along with senior government officials. The visit is also expected to include interaction with officials from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, two regions where AKDN has maintained a strong development presence for decades.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan
The third key purpose is the review of AKDN projects in northern Pakistan. AKDN’s work in Pakistan spans rural development, education, health, economic development, infrastructure, culture, and financial inclusion. Moreover, it has worked in Pakistan since 1905, with programmes designed to improve not only income but also the overall quality of life.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is expected to begin the visit in Islamabad, where he is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister and senior government officials. This opening engagement underscores the diplomatic significance of the visit and the ongoing partnership between Pakistan and the Ismaili Imamat.
Boys are sitting after decorating the streets for the visit of Prince Aga Khan
From May 21 onward, the visit is expected to move toward northern Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, for Didar gatherings and reviews of development initiatives. Reported locations connected with the gatherings include Gilgit, Hunza, Ishkoman, Gupis, Yasen, Lower Chitral, and Upper Chitral.
Local gathering in northern pakistan amid the visit of Prince Rahim Aga Khan
Preparations have been especially visible at Didargah sites in Garam Chashma, Lower Chitral, and Parwak Lasht, Upper Chitral. Chitral Today reported that Parwak Lasht was selected as a Didargah for Upper Chitral, while the Lower Chitral gathering is expected at Garam Chashma, a site also associated with past visits of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.
The Aga Khan family’s connection with Pakistan predates the country’s creation. Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III, the 48th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, was one of the most influential Muslim leaders of the early 20th century. He served as president of the All-India Muslim League in its early years and supported Muslim political representation and educational advancement in British India.
His son, Prince Aly Khan, also served Pakistan on the international stage. Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations records that Prince Aly Khan served as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1958 to 1960, during which he also served as a vice president of the UN General Assembly.
Roads are decorated to welcome Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Chitral Pakistan
The late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV deepened this relationship through decades of social and economic development. His official visit to Pakistan in December 2017, during his Diamond Jubilee year, included meetings with government leaders and engagements with the Ismaili community.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s 2026 visit is historic because it marks his first official visit to Pakistan as the 50th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. For the Ismaili community, especially in the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, the visit is a moment of spiritual renewal, unity, and gratitude.
For Pakistan, the visit reinforces a partnership that has delivered practical development benefits for more than a century. AKDN’s work in Pakistan includes hospitals, schools, community development programmes, rural support initiatives, cultural heritage projects, and infrastructure improvements. In education alone, the Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan, operates 154 schools and five hostels across Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Punjab, and Sindh, mostly in rural areas.
Ongoing preparation to welcome Prince Rahim Aga Khan
The visit also comes at a time when northern Pakistan faces growing development and climate challenges. Through AKDN institutions, the Ismaili Imamat has supported disaster preparedness, renewable energy, access to health care, education, tourism, microfinance, and rural livelihoods, areas that remain vital to the future of mountain communities.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s visit to Pakistan from May 20 to 26, 2026, represents far more than a ceremonial tour. It is a spiritually significant occasion for Ismaili Muslims, a diplomatic moment for Pakistan, and a renewed affirmation of AKDN’s long-standing commitment to national development.
From Islamabad’s official meetings to the Didargahs of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, the visit reflects a relationship built on faith, service, and shared progress. For followers awaiting Didar, it is a moment of deep devotion. For Pakistan, it is another chapter in a historic bond with the Aga Khan family, one that continues to shape education, healthcare, community resilience, and human development across the country.
Ejaz hussain is CEO of Pakistan tour and travel operating in Northern areas of pakistan offering honeymoon Packages from Pakistan in affordable rates with good quality services.
12 Years of Tourism Services - DTS License # 8135
