UN chief Guterres arrives in Islamabad for three-day visit

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Acting Foreign Secretary Nabeel Munir received the UN chief upon his arrival. Guterres’ visit will continue until Oct 8.

During his stay, the UN secretary general will visit the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), where he will observe Pakistan’s preparedness and capacity to respond to natural disasters.

He will also visit the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

According to the UN spokesperson, Guterres will hold discussions with Pakistani authorities on Islamabad’s diplomatic and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. The talks will also cover Pakistan’s constructive role and the broader regional situation.

Guterres last visited Pakistan in 2022, when he toured areas affected by the devastating floods that year.

Who is Antonio Guterres?

Guterres, born in Lisbon in 1949, studied engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal. He served as Portugal’s prime minister from 1995 to 2002 and was involved in international efforts to resolve the crisis in East Timor.

Before becoming UN secretary general, he served as the UN high commissioner for refugees from June 2005 to December 2015.

He was elected to Portugal’s parliament in 1976 and served there for 17 years. From 1981 to 1983, he was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he chaired committees dealing with population, migration and refugees.

Guterres was also associated with the Socialist International for several years, serving as its vice president from 1992 to 1999 and president from 1999 until mid-2005.

He became the United Nations’ ninth secretary general on Jan 1, 2017. Before entering senior government positions, he was involved in social development projects in poor areas of Lisbon and helped establish the Portuguese Refugee Council and the Portuguese Consumers Association (DECO).