ISLAMABAD, NOV 28 /DNA/ – The Ambassador of Portugal to Pakistan, Frederico Silva, during his working visit to Sindh, Karachi and Thatta, from 21 to 26 November 2025, dedicated a special focus on visiting and assessing socio-economic development projects implemented by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in the provincial capital and across Sindh province. The visit highlighted, once again, the exceptional quality, scale and community impact of AKF’s long-standing work in Pakistan, under the very able guidance of its CEO Mr. Akhtar Iqbal.
The visits also included Aga Khan Education entities (“AK Higher Secondary School”, “Sultan Mahomed Shah AK School” and the “Aga Khan Institute for Educational Development”), evidencing the excellence of its innovative teaching models, training programs and the high quality of their habitat. After meeting the Aga Khan University (AKU) leadership, the Portuguese delegation toured its internationally recognized hospital and discussed opportunities for further academic exchange and collaboration. The Ambassador praised AKU’s reputation for excellence, calling it “one of the most impressive institutions of higher learning and medical care in South Asia.”
A full-day field visit to Thatta District, provided firsthand insight into the AKRSP´s (Aga Khan Rural Support Programme) work in rural and coastal communities. The delegation visited projects supporting sustainable livelihoods, including crab and shrimp ponds in the village of Ahmed Khan Baluch, as well as community-led improvements in sanitation, potable water access and small-scale agriculture in surrounding villages. These initiatives demonstrated AKDN’s renowned ability to deliver high-impact, people-centered development in some of the province’s most underserved areas.
Throughout the visit, the Ambassador commended the Aga Khan Development Network for its remarkable contributions to Pakistan, praising the organization’s “professionalism, vision and deep commitment to improving lives across Sindh, as in other Provinces of the country.”, noting that AKDN’s work in education, health and rural development, amongst many other areas of intervention, “stands as a model of excellence providing high standards of effective, long-term and sustainable investment in empowering communities and citizens”
The Embassy of Portugal looks very much forward to exploring future avenues of cooperation with AKDN, recognizing the Network as a very valuable partner in promoting human development, social progress and inclusive growth in Pakistan.
