UN Chief Guterres Gets Nishan-e-Imtiaz in Pakistan, Meets Zardari and Dar
UN chief Antonio Guterres got the Nishan-e-Imtiaz in Islamabad on 6 October 2026 and met Zardari and Dar. See what was said on Iran, Kashmir and the Indus.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz from President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad on 6 October 2026, the first day of his visit to Pakistan. He also met Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and praised Pakistan's role in bringing the United States and Iran to talks.
The Nishan-e-Imtiaz is one of Pakistan's highest civil awards. The official account of the ceremony says it is the first time Pakistan has given it to any UN Secretary-General. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Dar attended the evening ceremony.
Guterres said he accepted it on behalf of UN staff. "I am nearing the end of my tenure as Secretary-General, and I was determined to make one last visit to Pakistan," he said, in remarks published by the UN's press office.
Guterres received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz on 6 October
President Zardari gave Guterres the Nishan-e-Imtiaz at a special ceremony in Islamabad on the evening of 6 October 2026. The award recognises his international service, his leadership of the UN and his work for peace and development, according to the official account of the ceremony.
In his reply, Guterres listed what he had seen in Pakistan over the years. He spoke of the country taking in millions of refugees, its losses to terrorism, the 2022 floods "Pakistan did virtually nothing to cause", and Pakistani peacekeepers serving under the UN flag.
He closed with a line from Allama Iqbal and called Pakistan "a country of strength, a country of determination, a country of compassion and heart". We read the full text on the UN press site at about 01:40 PKT on 7 October.
Zardari raised Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty and peacekeeping
In his meeting with Guterres before the ceremony, President Zardari said lasting peace needs dialogue between Pakistan and India "as equal neighbours" and a settlement of Kashmir under UN resolutions. He said the Indus Waters Treaty is binding and "cannot be unilaterally suspended or placed in abeyance".
The official readout lists the other points he raised:
- Pakistan's diplomacy, including the Islamabad Talks, is aimed at de-escalation and dialogue.
- Support for the Palestinian people and a two-state solution.
- Terrorism from groups operating from Afghan territory, and a demand that Afghan soil not be used against Pakistan.
- Over 270,000 Pakistani peacekeepers have served in 48 UN missions.
- Support for Guterres's UN80 reform drive, and opposition to adding unelected permanent members to the Security Council.
- A call for stronger action on climate finance, and thanks for his support after the 2022 floods.
| Meeting on 6 October | Main points in the official readout |
|---|---|
| Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar | Kashmir, Indus Waters Treaty, Palestine, Afghanistan, US and Iran talks |
| Joint press stakeout with Dar | Guterres praised Pakistan's US and Iran mediation |
| President Asif Ali Zardari | India dialogue, Indus Waters Treaty, peacekeeping, UN reform |
| Investiture ceremony | Nishan-e-Imtiaz conferred, PM and Speaker present |
Guterres praised Pakistan's US and Iran mediation
At a joint press stakeout with Dar in Islamabad, Guterres said Pakistan had helped create the conditions for dialogue between the United States and Iran. He credited Pakistan's leadership with the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the ceasefire that followed and a framework for future talks.
"I salute Pakistan's leadership in helping to create the conditions for dialogue between the United States and Iran and mediating the conflict," he said, according to the official account of the stakeout. He said every Pakistani should be proud of this role.
He also urged all parties to end the conflict, return to diplomacy and fully restore freedom of navigation. Our explainer on how Pakistan helped broker the US and Iran ceasefire sets out what the Islamabad talks did.
Dar said Pakistan's efforts had brought the United States and Iran to direct dialogue for the first time in 47 years. Guterres also planted a sapling at the Foreign Office.
Dar briefed him on Kashmir and Afghanistan
In their meeting, Dar and Guterres discussed Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and the future of the UN system. Dar briefed him on Pakistan's position on Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty. Guterres thanked Pakistan for its long contribution to the UN.
On Afghans in Pakistan, Guterres said the UN would work with Pakistan so that returns of Afghans are voluntary, safe and dignified. He also called for Security Council reform and more development finance and debt relief for poorer countries.
The Prime Minister and Army Chief meetings come next
The Foreign Office programme for 6 to 8 October also includes meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir. By 01:45 PKT on 7 October, neither the Prime Minister's Office nor the Foreign Office had published a readout of those meetings.
Here is what is still on the official programme:
- Meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
- Meeting with the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff.
- Visit to the headquarters of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), which monitors the Kashmir ceasefire line.
- Briefing at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on flood early warning and preparedness since 2022.
- Return to New York, which the UN says is due on Thursday 8 October.
The full plan for the trip, and why each stop matters, is in our report on Guterres's 6 to 8 October visit to Pakistan. For people in Islamabad, expect security movement around the Red Zone until he leaves.
Common questions
What award did Pakistan give Antonio Guterres?
The Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's highest civil awards. President Zardari conferred it in Islamabad on 6 October 2026.
Is Guterres the first UN Secretary-General to get the Nishan-e-Imtiaz?
Yes, according to the official account of the ceremony, it is the first time Pakistan has given it to any UN Secretary-General.
What did Guterres say about Pakistan and Iran?
He praised Pakistan for helping bring the United States and Iran to talks and credited it with the Islamabad MoU and the ceasefire that followed.
Did Guterres meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif?
The PM attended the award ceremony on 6 October. A separate meeting is on the programme, but no readout had been published by early 7 October.
Why is this Guterres's last visit to Pakistan?
His term as Secretary-General ends at the close of 2026. He said he wanted to make "one last visit to Pakistan".
When does Guterres leave Pakistan?
The official visit runs until 8 October 2026. The UN says he is due back in New York on Thursday.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked at about 01:45 PKT on 7 October 2026. Guterres's quotes on the award come from the UN press release SG/SM/23318 of 6 October 2026. The President's points, the Dar meeting and the stakeout come from the official accounts of those events released on 6 October. The programme comes from the Foreign Office curtain raiser of 5 October and the UN spokesperson's briefing of the same day. The Foreign Office and Prime Minister's Office press pages had no readout of the visit yet when we checked. We will update this after the remaining meetings.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
