Activities of Secretary-General in Pakistan, 13-14 August
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon-taek, arrived in Islamabad in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 August, after a flight from New York via Dubai.
The Secretary-General first held a town hall meeting with United Nations staff in Pakistan, including by video link for those in other locations across the country.
Next, the Secretary-General met with Sartaj Aziz, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs.
The Secretary-General travelled from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Centre for International Peace and Stability at the National University of Sciences and Technology, where he inaugurated the Centre and delivered a speech. (See Press Release SG/SM/15210.)
From the University, the Secretary-General headed to Taxila in Rawalpindi District to visit the Taxila Museum’s Buddhist and Hindu centre that is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site.
The Secretary-General then returned to Islamabad where he took part in a Youth and Education event involving a discussion with students. (See Press Release SG/SM/15211.)
He next visited Parliament House to meet the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The following morning, Wednesday, 14 August, the Secretary-General attended Pakistan’s Independence Day Celebration at the National Convention Centre.
He then met with Dr. Fahmida Mirza, the former Speaker of the National Assembly, who is instrumental in the Women Parliamentary Caucus. He later took part in a round-table discussion with women parliamentarians.
After that, the Secretary-General met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif. They addressed the media.
Later, the Secretary-General met with the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, Major-General Saeed Aleem.
The Secretary-General met next with the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari.
The Secretary-General left Islamabad late that night on a flight to Amman, where he arrived early the following day.