President Asif Ali Zardari conferred one of Pakistan’s highest civil honors on the UN chief during his official visit to the country.
In the final months of his decade as head of the United Nations, António Guterres has received a rare honor from Pakistan. On Tuesday, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz on the UN Secretary-General at a special investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President’s House in Islamabad.
The award was presented in recognition of his “distinguished international service, leadership of the UN and contribution to global peace and development,” according to a statement from the President’s Secretariat. It is the first time Pakistan has given the award to a UN secretary-general, Dawn reported.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq attended the ceremony, along with members of the federal cabinet and foreign ambassadors.
The honor came at the start of Guterres’s official visit to Pakistan, which runs from October 6 to 8 and includes meetings with the country’s top leadership.
António Guterres Accepts Nishan-e-Imtiaz on Behalf of the United Nations
Guterres said he was accepting the award not for himself but for those who work for the United Nations. In a post on X, he wrote that he had admired the Pakistani people for many years, describing them as generous, resilient, compassionate and steadfast in the face of immense challenges.
“I am deeply honoured by Pakistan’s recognition today of the work of the UN,” he wrote. He added that he accepted the award on behalf of the women and men of the United Nations, serving around the world and in Pakistan.
Pakistani officials also acknowledged the UN chief’s role in drawing global attention to the hardships faced by people in Pakistan during climate disasters and floods. Guterres visited flood-hit areas of the country in 2022, when he called on the world to support Pakistan as it recovered from some of the worst flooding in its history.
During his visit, Guterres also praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to support dialogue in the region, and President Zardari thanked him for his leadership, his focus on peaceful settlement of disputes and his attention to the concerns of developing countries.
The Nishan-e-Imtiaz, which means “Order of Excellence,” is one of Pakistan’s highest civil and military honors. It was established on March 19, 1957, and is presented by the President of Pakistan in a public ceremony.
The award recognizes outstanding service to Pakistan or achievements that have brought the country international recognition. It is the highest of four Imtiaz awards, followed by the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. A higher honor, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, is usually reserved for foreign heads of state.
Guterres has led the United Nations since January 2017 and is serving his second five-year term, which ends on December 31, 2026. His visit to Pakistan and the award ceremony come during his final year in office, as he continues to meet world leaders before stepping down.
