ISLAMABAD, October 6—During a UN Secretary-General Islamabad visit on Tuesday, the United Nations chief accepted a national award from the host government, marking what he stated was his final trip to Pakistan before completing his tenure.
Addressing the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Secretary-General stated he accepted the award on behalf of United Nations personnel serving globally and within Pakistan. He noted that his history of travel to the nation extends back to his previous role as UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
In his address, the Secretary-General acknowledged Pakistan’s history of providing refuge to millions of displaced persons, its response to terrorism, and its contributions to international peacekeeping efforts. He highlighted “the heroism and valor of Pakistani women and men serving as UN peacekeepers around the world.”
The UN chief also cited the impact of environmental disaster in the country, noting he had witnessed “the heartbreak and devastation of epic floods and a climate crisis Pakistan did virtually nothing to cause.”
Quoting Pakistani poet-philosopher Allama Iqbal, the Secretary-General recited, “Build, with your handful of dust, a body stronger than a fortress, / And inside this body, let there be a heart that feels sorrow, / Like a stream flowing by a mountain.”
He concluded his remarks by describing the host nation as “[a] country of strength. A country of determination. A country of compassion and heart.”
Background: UN Secretary-General Islamabad Relations
António Guterres has served as the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations since taking office in January 2017, with his second five-year term scheduled to conclude in December 2026.
Pakistan is historically one of the largest troop-contributing nations to United Nations peacekeeping operations, having deployed more than 200,000 personnel across dozens of international missions since 1960.
In 2022, Pakistan suffered climate-induced monsoon floods that inundated one-third of the country, affected over 33 million residents, and resulted in an estimated $30 billion in economic damage.
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