António Guterres is scheduled to meet Pakistan’s top leadership, visit the NDMA and UNMOGIP headquarters, and discuss regional diplomacy including Pakistan’s role in US-Iran talks.
ISLAMABAD: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday morning for an important visit featuring meetings with senior Pakistani leadership and visits to key UN and disaster-management institutions.
During his stay in Islamabad, Guterres is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
The UN chief is also scheduled to visit the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), where he will review Pakistan’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities, particularly in the context of the country’s experience with devastating floods.
Guterres last visited Pakistan in 2022, when he toured areas severely affected by catastrophic floods and called for greater international support for the flood-hit population.
Visit to UNMOGIP Headquarters
The UN secretary-general will also visit the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Islamabad.
UNMOGIP is the UN mission responsible for military observation activities in India and Pakistan, and its presence remains linked to the organisation’s longstanding role in monitoring developments related to the region.
US-Iran Diplomacy on Agenda
Discussions during Guterres’ visit are also expected to cover Pakistan’s diplomatic and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.
The UN secretary-general is likely to discuss Pakistan’s constructive role in supporting dialogue between the two countries and efforts aimed at facilitating diplomatic engagement.
Guterres is expected to return to New York on Thursday.
Who is António Guterres?
Born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1949, António Guterres studied engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico. He became the United Nations’ ninth secretary-general on January 1, 2017.
Before taking charge of the UN, Guterres served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015. He had previously spent more than two decades in Portuguese politics and public service.
Guterres served as Portugal’s prime minister from 1995 to 2002 and was elected to the Portuguese Parliament in 1976, where he served for 17 years.
He also played a prominent role in international efforts concerning the East Timor crisis and held senior positions within the Socialist International.
His long career in government, humanitarian affairs and international diplomacy has made him one of the prominent figures in global refugee and multilateral affairs.