President Confers Nishan-e-Imtiaz on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials attended the ceremony. Guterres was honoured in recognition of his global services and his longstanding friendship with Pakistan.

Accepting the award, Guterres said he was receiving the honour on behalf of all those working with the United Nations. He expressed appreciation for the hospitality and generosity of the Pakistani people, saying he had witnessed their resilience and solidarity firsthand. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the UN secretary-general on receiving the prestigious national honour.

Guterres said he had personally witnessed the hardships faced by Pakistanis due to the climate crisis and praised the courage and determination of the Pakistani people in confronting terrorism. He also highlighted the contribution of Pakistani troops to UN peacekeeping missions, saying they represented the true image of a great nation and reflected Pakistan’s commitment to international peace and security.