UN secretary general arrives in Pakistan on four-day visit

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Islamabad early Sunday to attend the International Conference on Afghan Refugees. 

During his four-day visit, he will hold meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. He will visit worship places of the Sikh community in Pakistan. The Pakistani authorities will brief the UN secretary-general about the Kashmir issue. 

He is the first secretary-general to visit United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UMNOGIP).

The Secretary-General’s other engagements include interactions with parliamentarians, media and the youth. He will deliver special talks on themes of sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping.

The Secretary-General will pay a visit to Lahore and visit Badshahi Mosque. He will also travel to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

Like his predecessors, Secretary General Antonio Guterres has on numerous occasions has lauded the role Pakistani military personnel have been playing under UN peacekeeping missions. Pakistan is the number one country in contributing to the UN peace missions.

Ban ki Moon, United Nations Secretary General - 13 Aug 2013

"I see great confidence and hope here today. But the feeling that overwhelms me is gratitude:  gratitude as the United Nations Secretary-General and gratitude as a global citizen for what Pakistan and her people have been doing for international peace and security. More than 100 countries contribute troops and police for United Nations peacekeeping missions.  Pakistan is number one.  It is impossible to speak about the history of United Nations peacekeeping without highlighting such contributions of Pakistan. I thank you very much”.

Maj-General Thomas M. Montgomery, Deputy Commander United Nations Forces in Somalia in 1993

 “Many of the soldiers are alive today because of the willingness and skill of the Pakistani soldiers who worked jointly in a rescue operation. We are thankful to the people and army of Pakistan for sending such splendid soldiers to Somalia whom we feel proud to serve with. Pakistani soldiers have been completely dependable even in the most difficult circumstances. They have shouldered a huge and dangerous load of UNOSOM and the Somali people”.

Miss Dijanana Islamovic ‘Ratni Haber’ – Editor Bosnian News Magazine

 “PAKBATT has not only protected us but has also infused a new spirit into our lives. They have given us all sorts of humanitarian help and above all have given us constant medical care in their hospital.”

Paul Klein, Transitional Administrator United Nations

" I wish to reaffirm my gratitude and appreciation for the professionalism, the Pakistani contingent has displayed during stay in Eastern Slavonia. They are indeed performing great services to humanity.”

Premier Chou-en-Lai

 “The only example in UN history, when a UN Military Force had gone in, performed its role honestly and came out was Pakistan’s Military contingent in Indonesia.”

 Indonesian President Sukarno

 “It was because of Pakistani troops that Indonesia and Pakistan came close together, they were Pakistan’s best ambassadors.”

 Lakhdar Brahimi, an Algerian United Nations Diplomat

“It gives me great pleasure to express my warmest congratulation and sincere admiration for the splendid work the officers and men of Pakistani battalion have done all over Haiti”.

António Guterres-Profile

Present

•              Ninth Secretary-General of UN, took office on 1st January 2017.

Politics

•              Served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015.

•              Served as PM of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, stayed involved in resolving crisis in East Timor.

•              President of the European Council in early 2000, led adoption of the Lisbon Agenda for growth/jobs, co-chaired the first European Union-Africa summit.

•              Member of the Portuguese Council of State from 1991 to 2002.

•              Elected to Portuguese Parliament in 1976 - served as a member for 17 years.

Social Work

•              Active in Socialist Intl, an org of social democratic political parties worldwide.

•              Founded Portuguese Refugee Council /Portuguese Consumers Association DECO.

•              Served as president of Centro de Acção Social Universitário, an association carrying out social development projects in poor neighbourhoods of Lisbon, early 1970s.

Club of Madrid

•              Member of Club of Madrid, a leadership alliance of democratic former presidents/PMs from around the world.

Personal

•              Born in Lisbon in 1949

•              Graduated from the Instituto Superior Técnico with a degree in engineering.

•              Languages: Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.

•              Spouse:  Vaz Pinto, Deputy Mayor for Culture of Lisbon

•              Two children, a stepson and three grandchildren.