President Asif Ali Zardari conferred Pakistan’s Nishan-e-Imtiaz on United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres, recognising his international service, leadership of the UN and contribution to global peace and development.
Guterres, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan, later thanked the country for the honour and accepted it on behalf of UN staff serving around the world and in Pakistan.
“Over many years, I have admired the Pakistani people: generous, resilient, compassionate & steadfast in the face of immense challenges. I am deeply honoured by Pakistan’s recognition today of the work of [@UN]. I am grateful & accept this award on behalf of the women & men of the United Nations – serving around the world & here in Pakistan,” he posted on X.
The investiture ceremony took place on Tuesday at Aiwan-e-Sadr, with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, parliamentarians and members of the diplomatic corps in attendance.
This marks the first time Pakistan has conferred the award on a UN secretary-general.
Before the ceremony, Zardari met Guterres and praised his efforts to promote dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful settlement of disputes as well as his focus on issues facing developing countries.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and thanked Guterres for his continued support for Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution.
On relations between Pakistan and India, Zardari said that lasting peace required sustained dialogue between the two countries as equal neighbours. He said that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved in line with UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Zardari also said that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains a binding international agreement and cannot be suspended or held in abeyance by one side.
The president said that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, including the Islamabad Talks, had focused on de-escalation, dialogue and saving lives. He added that Pakistan was ready to help facilitate diplomacy wherever possible and that dialogue was the only way to resolve regional disputes.
On terrorism, Zardari said that Pakistan had made huge sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism and continued to face attacks from groups based in Afghanistan. He added that Pakistan had shared evidence of outside support for proxies targeting the country and insisted that Afghan soil must not be used against Pakistan or any other state.
Zardari also highlighted Pakistan’s contribution to UN peacekeeping, saying more than 270,000 Pakistani peacekeepers had served in 48 UN missions worldwide.
He backed Guterres’s UN80 reform initiative but said that reforms must protect the interests of developing countries. He also expressed hope that the next UN secretary-general would continue the reform process.
During his joint press conference with Ishaq Dar in Islamabad earlier on Tuesday, Guterres called for an end to the US-Iran war and the restoration of navigational rights in the region.
“From Islamabad, I want to send a loud and clear message to all parties,” Guterres told journalists.
“End the conflict. Return to diplomacy. Fully restore navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law”.
Guterres also credited Pakistan with helping create conditions for dialogue between the US and Iran.
“Your efforts helped deliver the 17 June Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the subsequent ceasefire, and the framework for further negotiations,” he said, adding that “every Pakistani should be proud of that pivotal role”.
On Palestine, Guterres said: “There will never be peace in the region until the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people is fully realized – as Pakistan has long championed.”
He expressed hope for regional peace and prosperity “anchored in dialogue and cooperation” and described Pakistan as “a source of solidarity and solutions.”
Guterres also praised Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghans who fled conflict and instability. He said that the UN would continue working with Pakistan to ensure that returns were voluntary, safe and dignified.
He recalled Pakistan’s two-year term as a member of the UN Security Council and said:
“At a time of growing division and mistrust around the world, Pakistan put a spotlight on the value of multilateralism, dialogue, mediation and diplomacy.”
The UN chief also highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding contribution to UN peacekeeping and paid tribute to more than 180 Pakistani blue helmets who “gave their lives in the service of peace.”
Guterres noted that Pakistan and Denmark had led efforts on UN Security Council resolution 2823, which strengthens accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers. He said that 153 countries co-sponsored the resolution, making it “the largest number of co-sponsors for a Security Council resolution in United Nations history.”
He also acknowledged the “immense suffering” Pakistan has faced due to terrorist attacks.
Speaking about climate change, Guterres recalled his previous visit to Pakistan during the 2022 floods.
“Pakistan is on the frontlines of climate chaos despite contributing only a tiny fraction of global emissions,” he said, adding that “it is also on the frontlines of the response.”
He pointed to Pakistan’s role in establishing the Loss and Damage Fund and its growing clean energy transition.
