Reports on this page compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT
We continue our news coverage of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and members of his family with a fresh page for 2024. For stories from previous years, please click 2023 and 2021-2022 which contain anchor links for readers to zero in on specific news item.
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2024 NEWS COVERAGE: ANCHOR LINKS (CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE)
January 9, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets with the President of the European Council
January 18, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets German President Dr. Steinmeier
February 6, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets with President Ajay Banga of the World Bank
February 11, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets President Ruto of Kenya in Dubai
Coverage of Princess Zahra Aga Khan’s 6-Day Visit to Kenya
Coverage of Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s Visit to Kyrgyzstan
March 11, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends Commonwealth Day in London
April 22, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Receives Credentials from New Canadian Representative to the Ismaili Imamat
April 24, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Prince Aly Muhammad Host Leaders from Portuguese Language Countries
May 2-3, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Inaugurates Cancer Centre in Dar es Salaam
May 10, 2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan Honoured with Castelo Branco’s Highest Distinction
May 11, 2024: Princess Yasmin at Alzheimer’s Association Gala in Chicago
May 22-26, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Son Ilyan in Northern Pakistan
June 6-10, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Pakistan
June 30, 2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan Receives Sintra’s Municipal Merit Medal
July 1, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Maynooth for Signing of Agreement
July 1, 2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan Reviews Progress on Ismaili Center Houston
July 4, 2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Prince Hussain and Princess Fareen Welcome Guests for 67th Imamat Day
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July 4, 2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Prince Hussain and Princess Fareen Welcome Guests for 67th Imamat Day Commemorative Event
Princess Fareen Aga Khan, Prince Hussain and Prince Amyn welcome guests to the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat to commemorate the 67th Imamat Day of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan; July 4, 2024. Photograph: AKDN.
Prince Amyn Aga Khan and his nephew Prince Hussain, accompanied by his wife Princess Fareen, attended a reception at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 4, 2024 to commemorate the 67th Imamat Day of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, who became the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957 at the age of 20. In attendance were senior leaders of the Portuguese government, including former presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and mayors, many of whom have worked with the Imamat. The event was also attended by leaders of Ismaili community institutions, the Aga Khan Development Network, and members of the diplomatic community and civil society.
Prince Amyn extended a warm welcome to guests at the event. He spoke about Ismaili Imamat’s partnership with Portugal to improve people’s lives. He said:
“Our work in this country and our partnership with Portugal and its people provide us with the creations, discoveries and the actions not only to be of benefit to the people of this country but to work fruitfully and successfully in some of the most difficult regions of the world.”
He also hoped that “that this building and your presence with us today will be seen as strong signals of hope. ”
Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, expressed his appreciation to Portuguese leaders, past and present, for supporting the Imamat’s work over many years.
Guests enjoy a performance from the Aga Khan Master Musicians in collaboration with the Amara quartet at the Diwan of Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon to commemorate the 67th Imamat Day of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan; July 4, 2024. Photograph: AKDN.
Guests were treated to a special performance by the Aga Khan Master Musicians, renowned performers and composer-arrangers, in collaboration with the Amara Quartet, an all-female ensemble known for their contemporary renditions of the Portuguese traditional Fado.
Dr Margarida Blasco, Portugal’s Minister of Interior Affairs, 5th from left, and Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s family members Prince Amyn, Prince Hussain and Princess Fareen, observe the Nashid al-Imamah at the Imamat Day reception at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imam; July 4, 2024.Photograph: AKDN.
Her Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr. Margarida Blasco, offered her congratulations to His Highness the Aga Khan and the Ismaili community “for the excellent work that has been done here in Portugal, as in dozens of other countries, in favour of peace and social, economic and cultural development.”
“Portugal is proud to welcome you,” she added, “and to collaborate with you through the Aga Khan Development Network to create better living conditions for all.”
External links: Please click on the following link(s) for further coverage of the Imamat Day reception in Lisbon:
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July 1, 2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan Visits Houston to Review Ismaili Center Construction Progress
Prince Amyn Aga Khan and the Honorable Mayor of Houston John Whitmire at the Mayor’s office. Photograph: IPL/Akbar Hakim.
Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, met with the Mayor of Houston, the Honorable John Whitmire, to discuss progress on the construction of the Ismaili Center in Houston, the seventh such center in the world and the first in the United States.
Mayor Whitmire became Houston’s 63rd Mayor on January 1, 2024, after winning a runoff election in a landslide December 23, 2023. He succeeded Sylvester Turner, who served as Houston’s Mayor for two consecutive terms, a limit imposed by the city charter.
Prince Amyn Aga Khan, the Honorable Mayor of Houston John Whitmire, and leaders of the Ismaili community, including Shafik Sachedina, USA Aga Khan Council President Al-Karim Alidina and Vice President Celina Shariff, discuss the progress of the Ismaili Center in Houston. Photograph: IPL/Akbar Hakim.
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The Ismaili Center in Houston, well under construction in Houston, Texas, against Houston’s skyline. The Ismaili Cente will be a space for reflection, inspiration and knowledge. Photograph: IPL/Mairaj Hakim.
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Prince Amyn Aga Khan in conversation with lead design architect Farshid Moussavi and landscape architect Thomas Woltz, as members of the construction’s Oversight Committee look on. Photograph: IPL/Akbar Hakim.
Prince Amyn and Jamati leaders met with the design team, including lead design architect Farshid Moussavi, structural engineer Hanif Kara, and landscape architect Thomas Woltz. They reviewed progress on the gardens and the key spaces and facilities, including the prayer hall, blackbox theater, social hall, the open air eivans, and administrative offices.
Tweets from Mayor’s Office
(2/2) The beautiful Ismaili Center Houston being built near downtown will be a place where Houstonians from all walks of life can find engaging, thoughtful, and compassionate programs and people. pic.twitter.com/yEbRziPe0e
— Houston Mayor’s Office (@houmayor) July 3, 2024
External links: Please click on the following link(s) for further coverage of Prince Amyn’s visit to Houston:
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July 1, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Ireland’s Maynooth University
Maynooth University (MU) President, Prof Eeva Leinonen, welcomes Princess Zahra Aga Khan to Maynooth for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between MU University and the Aga Khan University, July 1, 2024. Photograph: Maynooth University
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Aga Khan University (AKU) and Ireland’s Maynooth University (MU). This first-of-its-kind partnership will promote collaboration in research, student and staff mobility, and knowledge exchange in areas of mutual expertise and development. The agreement’s signatories were AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin and MU President Professor Eeva Leinonen.
FLASHBACK 2008: Mawlana Hazar Imam and Princess Zahra at Maynooth University
Princess Zahra Aga Khan pictured with her father, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, on June 30, 2008, at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, where he was honoured for his work against poverty and in promoting religious understanding. Photo: © Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images.
The MOU signing event was held July 1, 2024, at Maynooth University. Just over sixteen years ago, on June 30, 2008, Maynooth University conferred an honorary degree on Mawlana Hazar Imam, the Founder and Chancellor of AKU. This prestigious recognition was a testament to his outstanding contributions to the elimination of global poverty, the advancement of women, the promotion of Islamic culture, and the furthering of pluralistic values for society.
Commenting on the partnership, MU President Professor Eeva Leinonen stated:
“We are delighted to formalise this partnership with Aga Khan University, which builds on our shared values and long-standing relationship. This collaboration is driven by our shared belief in the transformative power of education, and our commitment to global cooperation and sustainable development. By working together, we can enhance our international impact, addressing critical global challenges in health, climate and education, and exploring new areas of mutual interest.”
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Princess Zahra Aga Khan and the AKU delegation get a tour of Maynooth University during the signing of the MOU between the Irish University and Aga Khan University. This first-of-its-kind partnership between AKU and an Irish university will promote collaboration in research, student and staff mobility, and knowledge exchange in mutual expertise and development areas. Photograph: Maynooth University via AKDN.
“The world has never been more interconnected than it is today,” Princess Zahra Aga Khan said. “That means problems are more complex, but also that there are unprecedented opportunities for collaboration across borders. I look forward to seeing AKU and Maynooth help one another to address the health, education, climate and other challenges facing the people they serve in creative new ways.”
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Pictured l-r: Prof Peter Thorne; Prof Conor Murphy; Princess Zahra Aga Khan; MU President Prof Eeva Leinonen; AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin; Dr Stephen McCarron; and fourth-year Biological and Geographical Sciences student Aidan McLarnon. Photograph: Maynooth University.
AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin said. “We are thrilled to have Maynooth as a partner, and we can’t wait to begin working with it to open new horizons for inquiry and learning for faculty, staff and students from both universities.”
External links: Please click on the following link(s) for complete coverage of the signing of the MOU between AKU and MU:
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June 30, 2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan is Honoured with Medal in Sintra, Portugal
Mayor Basílio Horta awards Sintra’s Municipal Merit Medal to Prince Amyn Aga Khan during the Municipality Day celebrations hosted by Sintra City Council. The Medal was awarded in recognition of the Aga Khan Foundation’s many years of work to enhance the quality of life in the local area. Photograph: Jose Carlos Nero/AKDN.
The Mayor of Sintra, Basílio Horta, has awarded the town’s Municipal Merit Medal to Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, in recognition of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)’s many years of work to enhance the quality of life in the local area. The honour was bestowed at the Town Hall during the Municipality Day celebrations hosted by Sintra City Council.
“It’s an appropriate day to salute you,” said Mayor Basílio Horta in his address at the event. “The Aga Khan Foundation, for us, is a very very important partner, which serves our entire municipality, but extensively people who have special needs.”
“I’m delighted by the work that the Aga Khan Foundation has been doing here,” said Prince Amyn, who also highlighted the importance of education, early childhood development, and culture in addressing some of the challenges that communities and societies face today.
Over the past 20 years, AKF has been working with migrant, job seeking, and ageing populations in Sintra to increase opportunities and uplift living conditions. In partnership with the Municipality of Sintra, a region known for its rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty, AKF has implemented several key projects aimed at enhancing educational opportunities, promoting economic development, and fostering social inclusion. Current projects include early childhood development, youth training and digital literacy programmes, support for environmental conservation efforts, and further strengthening community engagement.
FLASHBACK: In November 2022, Prince Rahim Aga Khan joined Mayor Basílio Horta, the President of the Foundation for Science and Technology, Madalena Alves, and other experts at the Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra, Portugal to present the results of Bytes4Future, a digital upskilling programme for vulnerable youth. AKF created Bytes4Future in 2020 in partnership with the Run Code School, the Municipality of Sintra and the Portugal Social Innovation Partnership for Impact.
External links: Please click on the following link(s) for external coverage of medal bestowed on Prince Amyn in Sintra, Portugal:
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June 6-10, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s Visit to Pakistan
Prince Rahim Aga Khan addresses Ismaili community leaders at an institutional dinner hosted on June 6, 2024, in Islamabad by the His Highness the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Pakistan. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Introduction: Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the second child and oldest son of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, was in Pakistan from June 6-10, 2024, to review and launch crucial Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) projects in renewable energy, microfinance, and information technology, among others. These projects, which are a testament to the Ismaili Imamat’s commitment to progress and development in Pakistan, were being closely examined by Prince Rahim. During his five-day visit, he also met government leaders and officials, including the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, leaders of AKDN and the Ismaili community. Prince Rahim’s visit to Pakistan is comprehensively covered below, with links to external websites for additional information.
The Ismaili: Video Coverage of Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s Visit to Pakistan
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JUNE 10, 2024: PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN MEETS PRIME MINISTER SHEHBAZ SHARIFF AS HE CONCLUDES FIVE-DAY PAKISTAN VISIT
Prince Rahim Aga Khan meets with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, at his official residence in Islamabad on June 10, 2024. Photograph: Prime Minister’s Office.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, at his official residence in Islamabad on June 10, 2024. This meeting, which took place on the final day of Prince Rahim’s six-day visit to Pakistan, was a testament to the positive impact of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the country. The Prime Minister, who had returned from an official five-day visit to China, his first since assuming office in March, expressed his deep gratitude for the work of the AKDN and the significant role played by Aga Khan III, the 48th Ismaili Imam, in the creation of Pakistan.
The English Aaj TV reports that during the meeting the Prime Minister invited AKDN to increase its investment in Pakistan’s tourism sector. The Prime Minister also congratulated Prince Rahim on receiving the Nishan-e-Pakistan Award — the country’s highest civilian honour — from the government. He expressed gratitude to the Prince Rahim for establishing various social welfare projects in less developed and remote areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
Video: X (formerly Twitter)
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف سے آغا خان فنڈ فار اکنامک ڈویلپمنٹ کی ایگزیکٹو کمیٹی کے چیئرپرسن شہزادہ رحیم آغا خان کی پانچ رکنی وفد کے ہمراہ ملاقات۔
وزیراعظم کی آغا خان ڈیولپمنٹ نیٹ ورک کو قابل تجدید توانائی کے منصوبوں میں حکومت پاکستان کے ساتھ اشتراک کی دعوت pic.twitter.com/xL4U9HMhBs
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 10, 2024
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JUNE 8-9, 2024: PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN
(1) Gilgit: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Inaugurates HBL Microfinance Bank
HBL MfB’s new Regional Headquarters for Gilgit-Baltistan in Gilgit which was inaugurated on June 9, 2024, by Prince Rahim Aga Khan. A blend of modern architecture and local cultural elements, the building meets some of the highest international standards of green construction. It has earned the LEED Gold certification and EDGE Advanced certification, one of the first buildings in the country to achieve this. The LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council highlights the building’s superior performance in energy and water efficiency, sustainable site development and indoor environmental quality. The EDGE Advanced certification, granted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), underscores the building’s commitment to resource efficiency, achieving significant energy and water savings. The building is well equipped to produce 40 percent of the electricity required for its day-to-day functions. Photograph: HBL/Taseer Beg
Prince Rahim Aga Khan on June 9, 2024, inaugurated the new Regional Headquarters of HBL Microfinance Bank (HBL MfB) for Gilgit-Baltistan in Gilgit. The building underlines the Bank’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and local community development. A blend of modern architecture and local cultural elements, the building meets some of the highest international standards of green construction.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan inaugurates the new HBL MfB Regional Headquarters for Gilgit-Baltistan in Gilgit on June 9, 2024. Among those in the picture are Sultan Ali Allana, Chairman, HBL, Rayomond Kotwal, Chairman, HBL MfB, Amir Khan, and President & CEO, HBL MfB, as well as Ismaili institutional leaders Shafik Sachedina and Nizar Mewawalla, President of the Aga Khan Council for Pakistan. Photograph: HBL/Taseer Beg
The inauguration of the Headquarters is a remarkable milestone for both the Aga Khan Development Network and the Bank,” said Prince Rahim Aga Khan. “It is a major step towards AKDN’s goal of achieving net zero by 2030. As we continue our journey to a better and more sustainable future, this building serves as a symbol of continued progress, sustainability and prosperity for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.”
HBL Microfinance Bank Ltd. was established in 2002 as the first private-sector microfinance bank, licensed by the State Bank of Pakistan. HBL MfB was created through a structured transformation of the credit and savings section of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), an integrated development programme to pioneer the microfinance sector in the country, operating since 1982 in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
(2) Hunza: Prince Rahim Aga Khan at the New Serena Hotel
Prince Rahim Aga Khan plants a tree on June 8, 2024, to commemorate the completion of the construction of the Hunza Serena Hotel, the first five-star hotel in Hunza. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim
Prince Rahim attended a reception at the newly constructed five-star Hunza Serena Hotel. The hotel’s construction provided employment for over 600 workers, including women from CIQAM — a social enterprise that trains women in carpentry. Members of the group were responsible for much of the woodwork at the hotel.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan poses for photographs with artists from the Leif Larsen Music Centre (left) and staff of the newly constructed five-star Hunza Serena Hotel on June 8, 2024. The Leif Larsen Music Centre was a product of the Aga Khan Music Initiative and the Royal Norwegian Embassy’s joint efforts and was dedicated to training young people in the various traditions of mountain music. This training equipped them with the skills and knowledge to preserve and promote these rich cultural traditions. Photographs: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Like the other Serena hotels, sustainability and eco-friendly tourism are priorities. The Hunza Serena is the second Serena hotel in the country to have its own sewage recycling plant, which will significantly reduce wastage.
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(3) Hunza: Ismailis Line-up Streets as Prince Rahim Aga Khan Visits Historic Altit Fort
Members of the Ismaili community welcome Prince Rahim Aga Khan as he walks through the streets around the Altit Fort and poses for a photograph with members of the Jamat, many in Ismaili Volunteers uniform; June 8, 2024. Photographs: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Prince Rahim made a stop at the historic Altit Fort, walking through the surrounding streets, which were were lined with members of the Ismaili community and Ismaili Volunteers. The 800-year-old restored fort, recipient of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Distinction in 2011, was built by the ruling family of Hunza. It is now a major attraction for tourists, a local history museum and a cultural centre.
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(4) Hunza: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Launches Development of Solar Power Plants
Prince Rahim Aga Khan unveils a plaque on June 8, 2024, commemorating the start of the development of the Duiker solar energy plant in Hunza. When commissioned in November 2024, it will increase the daily power availability from the current 11,000 people to nearly 20,000 people. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
The website of the Aga Khan Development Network reports that Prince Rahim Aga Khan on June 8, 2024, visited Hunza district in Gilgit-Baltistan to launch the development of Duiker Phase II and Nasirabad Solar Power Plants. Phase I of Duiker Solar Power Plant, which commenced operations in November 2023, increased the daily power availability for more than 11,000 people, from 10 to 17 hours in summer and from four to nine hours in winter. When commissioned in November 2024, Duiker Phase II will expand generation capacity from 1MWp to 1.6MWp, and battery storage from 0.6MWh to 1MWh, providing increased electricity to an additional 8,760 people. Crucially, Duiker replaces diesel power generation, leading to an annual reduction of 1,100 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan with IPS and NPAK leaders at the Duiker power plant. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
A 2MWp Solar Power Plant with 1MWh battery storage will also be constructed in Nasirabad in lower Hunza and is is expected to be commissioned in June 2025. This will supply power to an additional 23,400 people. NPAK Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), the industrial and infrastructure development arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), is investing $6m in these projects Over the next five years, NPAK Energy will mobilise additional investments in clean, sustainable sources of electricity across Hunza and surrounding areas, addressing the region’s acute energy deficit while contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change.
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(5) Hunza: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Inaugurates Software Park
Prince Rahim Aga Khan unveils a plaque on June 8, 2024, to inaugurate the Nasirabad Software Technology Park. Present on the occasion were the Director General of the Special Communications Organization, Major General Umar Ahmad Shah; the Director of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and Chairman of Habib Bank Limited, Mr Sultan Ali Allana; the President of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan, Mr Nizar Mewawalla; and the Chief Executive Officer of AKF (Pakistan), Mr Akhtar Iqbal. Photograph: AKDN/Sonail Naeem.
The Facebook page Hunza News and the AKDN website report that on June 8, 2024, Prince Rahim Aga Khan inaugurated a Software Technology Park in Nasirabad, Hunza.
The project, which is a joint effort of Special Communication Organization (SCO) and the AKDN, is a significant step in the region’s technical and economic development. Equipped with high-speed internet and state-of-the-art facilities, the Nasirabad Software Technology Park will act as the central resource for a hub and spokes model linking other IT facilities in more remote areas of the region and offer many benefits. With an uninterrupted power supply, high-speed internet, and a co-working space, the park will catalyze the growth of small and growing start-ups, freelancers, and chambers of commerce, paving the way for a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. It will also enhance access to distance learning, career counselling, and digital skills development.
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JUNE 7, 2024: PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN IN ISLAMABAD
(1) Prince Rahim Aga Khan Calls on President Zardari
Prince Rahim Aga Khan called on President Asif Ali Zardari, and the two leaders discussed the role of the AKDN in Pakistan’s socio-economic development. During the meeting, President Zardari underscored the need to focus on educational development. He also expressed his admiration for Prince Rahim’s commitment to the multi-generational legacy of His Highness the Aga Khan’s family, a legacy that has significantly contributed to Pakistan’s socio-economic development. The meeting was attended by Sultan Ali Allana, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Habib Bank Limited Pakistan, and senior government officials, all key stakeholders in Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
Video: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Calls on Pakistan President
The President thanked Prince Rahim for visiting Pakistan and expressed the hope that he would visit the country frequently. The Prince thanked the President for conferring upon him the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz.
Related Tweet from the President of Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Award of “Nishan-i-Pakistan” upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan in recognition of his meritorious services and role in the development, progress,and betterment of Pakistan and its people, during a special investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr. pic.twitter.com/IromOoUjZR
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) June 7, 2024
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(2) Prince Rahim Aga Khan is Awarded Pakistan’s Highest Civilian Order
The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, congratulates Prince Rahim Aga Khan after conferring on him the Nishan-i-Pakistan on June 7, 2024, at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President’s official residence in Islamabad. Photograph:: AKDN/ Akbar Hakim.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has conferred the Award of “Nishan-i-Pakistan,” the nation’s highest civilian award, upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan. The special investiture ceremony occurred on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President’s official residence in Islamabad.
Video: Investiture Ceremony of Nishan-i-Pakistan on Prince Rahim Aga Khan
The Nishan-i-Pakistan award was conferred on Prince Rahim Aga Khan in recognition of his leadership role in advancing path-breaking initiatives in Pakistan in commercial banking, microfinance, insurance, sustainable tourism, and the renewable energy sector through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). He has spearheaded the establishment of environmental stewardship policies and best practices to address climate change. The network has also enabled nearly 50 million people in Pakistan to access financial services.
Noting Prince Rahim’s role as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and Chair of the Aga Khan Development Network’s Environment and Climate Committee, the award citation stated:
“Prince Rahim Aga Khan, through his many leadership roles within the Aga Khan Development Network, has, for more than a quarter century, dedicated his untiring efforts to improving the quality of life of peoples in resource-constrained regions of Asia and Africa…His personal engagement in assuring that initiatives impacting the economic, health, educational and cultural well-being of poor and marginalised communities respond to evolving and contemporary needs, upholds a multigenerational legacy that traces its origins, in Pakistan, to the founding of the nation.”
Ismaili institutional and AKDN leaders look on as President Asif Ali Zardari bids farewell to Prince Rahim Aga Khan after conferring on him the Nishan-i-Pakistan, the nation’s highest civilian award, on June 7, 2024, at the President’s official residence in Islamabad. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Upon receiving the Nishan-i-Pakistan, Prince Rahim said:
“I am honoured to accept such a distinguished award on behalf of the Aga Khan Development Network, my colleagues, our staff, and the many volunteers who work tirelessly to improve the lives of the people of Pakistan. I express my warmest gratitude to the President and Government of Pakistan for this immense recognition.”
Related Tweet from the President of Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari conferring the award of Nishan-i-Pakistan upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan in recognition of his services for Pakistan, at Aiwan-e-Sadr. pic.twitter.com/vLJdWyEV7T
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) June 7, 2024
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JUNE 6, 2024: PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN ARRIVES IN PAKISTAN FOR WORKING VISIT
Prince Rahim Aga Khan arrived in Pakistan to meet with government, Ismaili community and institutional leaders, and to visit new projects of the Aga Khan Development Network in Gilgit-Baltistan. His older sister Princess Zahra had earlier visited visited many AKDN projects in Northern Pakistan between May 22-26, 2024.
Following his first day of discussions with Ismaili community and AKDN institutions, Prince Rahim Aga Khan attended a dinner hosted by the Ismaili Council for Pakistan in Islamabad on June 6, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim
Following his first day of discussions with Jamati and AKDN institutions, the Prince attended a dinner hosted by the Ismaili Council for Pakistan. The Council President, Nizar Mewawalla, thanked Prince Rahim for his presence in Pakistan and for his continuous efforts, support, and keen interest in the institutions’ work.
In his remarks, President Nizar said, “Our institutions have positively impacted not only the quality of life of the people of Pakistan but are also serving as role models and best practices around the world, and insha’Allah will continue to do so for decades to come.”
Prince Rahim, with heartfelt gratitude, thanked the government of Pakistan for its warm welcome and expressed his deep appreciation to the collective effort of the leaders, staff, donors, and countless volunteers over decades who have tirelessly worked to enhance the quality of life of the Jamat: “I know that Hazar Imam will be very happy to hear about the progress being made here.” In his remarks, Prince Rahim also paid tribute to the volunteers in the Jamat. “My thanks to our volunteers and to their families for their generous contribution of time and knowledge and resources. I’m honoured to be here and I’m grateful. Thank you very much.”
President Nizar informed the gathering that the President of Pakistan would award Prince Rahim with Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, on June 7.
External links: Please click on the following link(s) for external coverage of Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s visit to Pakistan:
AAJ TV: PM Shehbaz urges AKDN to increase investment in tourism sector
The Ismaili: Prince Rahim concludes visit to Pakistan
AKDN: HBL Microfinance Bank inaugurates new Regional HQ for Gilgit-Baltistan: A commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship
AKDN: Prince Rahim Aga Khan inaugurates new Software Technology Park, Nasirabad, Hunza
AKDN: Launch of the development of Duiker Phase II and Nasirabad Solar Power Plants in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan
Associated Presss (Pakistan) Prince Rahim Aga Khan called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr
The President of Pakistan: President confers Nishan-i-Pakistan upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan
Urdupoint: President Zardari Confers Nishan-i-Pakistan Award On Prince Rahim Aga Khan
The Ismaili: Prince Rahim awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian honour
AKDN: Prince Rahim Aga Khan awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian honour
GEO TV: Prince Rahim Aga Khan awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian honour
The Khamma Press: Pakistan Bestows Top Civilian Honor on Prince Rahim Aga Khan
Pakistan Today: Prince Rahim Agha Khan conferred with ‘Nishan-e-Pakistan’ award
Islamabad Post: President confers Nishan-i-Pakistan upon Prince Rahim Aga Khan
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May 22-26, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan’s Visit to Northern Pakistan
Annotated map of Pakistan with neighbouring countries. In red are Gilgit and Chitral, which Princess Zahra Aga Khan visited to review the Aga Khan Development Network projects, and Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. Photograph: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas.
May 26, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan is Hosted to Dinner by Ismaili Institutions
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, concluded her six-day visit to Northern Pakistan with a dinner hosted on May 26, 2024 in Islamabad, by Pakistan’s Ismaili community institutions.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan and her son Iliyan at the Aga Khan Ismaili institutional dinner in Islamabad on May 26, 2024, with the President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Pakistan, Nizar Mewawalla, seated on the right of the Princess. Photograph; AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Princess Zahra’s visit covered more than a dozen projects across various districts and regions, including the inauguration of the Aga Khan Hostel in Sherqilla and a new purpose-built Aga Khan Health Centre in Aliabad. She also visited visited Chitral. Princess Zahra’s son, Ilyan, accompanied her on the visit.
In her remarks at the institutional dinner, Princess Zahra acknowledged the important work being done in Pakistan: “It’s thanks to every single person in this system. Officially, unofficially. Unemployed. Volunteer. Donor. Friend. Every single person makes this network of agencies and institutions what it is. And so I just stand here as a representative of an ongoing vision. The vision that we’re all following, His Highness’ vision that has had such a huge impact… And I just want to say thank you.”
Princess Zahra Aga Khan in her remarks made at the Ismaili Institutional dinner held on May 26, 2024, in Islamabad, Pakistan, said “It’s thanks to every single person in this system. Officially, unofficially. Unemployed. Volunteer. Donor. Friend. Every single person makes this network , of agencies [in the Aga Khan Development Network] and institutions what it is. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
The President of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan, Nizar Mewawalla, in his remarks, said: “I would like to request Princess Zahra and her dear son, Iliyan, to please visit us again soon, because your visit here not only inspires the rest of us and the Jamats and the communities in which we work to do better, to do more. This is all driven by the spirit of the vision of our Imam. And your presence here makes us feel his presence in a much more direct manner. So thank you very much.”
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May 25, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Visits Chitral
Princess Zahra Aga Khan helps to plant a tree at the Aga Khan Medical Centre in Booni, Chitral, on May 25, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
On May 25, 2024, Prince Zahra and her son Ilyan, visited the Chitral Diagnostic Centre and the Aga Khan Medical Centre Booni, the hub facility of the Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan, in the Chitral region. The centre was established to provide basic and comprehensive obstetric, neonatal, and child health care to approximately 250,000 people living in Upper Chitral and now serves as a major health care provider in the region. They also visited the Aga Khan Agency for Habita’s (AKAH) Emergency Operation Centre in Chitral and the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School in Seenlasht. While at the school, Princess Zahra planted a tree as a symbolic groundbreaking for a new school to be built in nearby Garamchashma.
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Had the honour of greeting Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Chitral Airport during her tour of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. pic.twitter.com/gKLuHSeQem
— Fateh-ul-Mulk Ali Nasir (@FatehMulk) May 28, 2024
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May 24, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Inaugurates Aga Khan Hostel in Sherqilla, Visits AKDN Projects in Immit and Gakhukch, and Observes Emergency Simulation by AKAH Response Teams
Princess Zahra Aga Khan is greeted with a bouquet of flowers upon arriving at the new Aga Khan Hostel in Sherqilla on May 24, 2024. Looking on are Princess Zahra’s son Ilyan and Ismaili leaders Shafik Sachedina and Malik Talib, among others. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
On May 23, 2024, Princess Zahra inaugurated the Aga Khan Hostel in Sherqillaa, new facility designed to cater for and support female students of the adjacent Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Sherqilla. The hostel will provide boarding for more than 100 students from valleys around Gilgit-Baltistan, such as Yasin, Ishkoman, Gupis, and Puniyal, and will enable them to attend the nearby Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Sherqilla from Grades 8 to 12.
The school started as the Diamond Jubilee Middle School, Sherqilla in 1968. The new purpose-built campus was inaugurated by Mawlana Hazar Imam in 1983 during his Silver Jubilee. In 2012, the school became the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Sherqilla. “The Aga Khan School, Sherqilla, is a project of which everyone in the Jamat and in the village can be proud,” Hazar Imam said at the time.
Today, the school is well-known for its commitment to high standards, and many of its students come from remote and underserved communities. The Aga Khan Hostel, Sherqilla, provides female students with a safe, nurturing, and academically engaging residential environment.
Youngsters perform for Princess Zahra Aga Khan, her son Iliyan, and guests at the inauguration of the Aga Khan Hostel in Sherqilla on May 24, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
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Princess Zahra Aga Khan, her son Iliyan, and guests reveal a plaque to commemorate the official opening of the Aga Khan Hostel in Sherqilla on May 24, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
The newly built hostel features comfortable dorms, a dining hall offering healthy and nutritious meals, recreation areas, common rooms with digital display screens, and spacious balconies, all of which are accessible for children with disabilities. There is also a multi-purpose hall for indoor activities and a space for students to paint, draw, or sketch.
Its convenient location next to the school enables students to fully immerse themselves in school life. This will support young minds on their educational journeys and help them grow into well-rounded individuals who can contribute positively to their communities and beyond.
Princess Zahra and her son Iliyan greet students of the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School Ghakuch. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
During the day, Princess Zahra and Iliyan also visited a health centre, the Diamond Jubilee school in Immit and the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School in Gakhukch. They also observed an emergency simulation by the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH)’s emergency response teams.
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May 23, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Inaugurates Aga Khan Health Centre in Aliabad; Visits Aga Khan School and Professional Development Centre
On May 23, 2024, Princess Zahra attended the inauguration of the purpose-built Aga Khan Health Centre in Aliabad. This new facility aims to boost the quality of healthcare in the region, treating illnesses and promoting overall well-being.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan is greeted with a bouquet of flowers upon arriving to open the new Aga Khan Health Centre in Aliabad on May 23, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Equipped with the latest medical technologies and staffed by highly trained healthcare professionals, the new centre is a significant step forward in the infrastructure of Aliabad and the surrounding area, bringing timely and effective medical services closer to the community. The new centre includes:
Digital-health services.
An accident and emergency department.
A high-dependency unit.
Comprehensive obstetric and neonatal services.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan and her son and Iliyan reveal a plaque to commemorate the official opening of the Aga Khan Health Centre in Aliabad on May 23, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
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Princess Zahra Aga Khan and guests tour the new Aga Khan Health Centre building and its facilities on May 23, 2024. The building includes an accident and emergency department and a high-dependency unit. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
In the hub-and-spokes model that the Aga Khan Health Service has adopted in Pakistan, the centre is linked to the Aga Khan Hospital in Gilgit for referrals, while Aliabad itself serves as a sub-hub for nine basic health centres in Hunza and Nagar. The facility also provides digital health services, where patients can receive tele-consultations for psychiatry and dermatology.
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May 22, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Arrives in Gilgit-Baltistan
The May 23, 2024, edition of Pakistan’s Daily Times reported that Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of His Highness the Aga Khan, was warmly received by Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan when she arrived in Gilgit on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Please read the report by clicking on Daily Times. The Ismaili website mentions that Princess Zahra also called on the Governor before embarking on her visits related to Imamat projects.
External links: Please click on the following link(s) for external coverage of Princess Zahra Aga Khan’s visit to Northern Pakistan:
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May 11, 2024: Princess Yasmin Aga Khan Hosts Rita Hayworth Gala for Alzheimer’s in Chicago
With an outstretched hand, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, in the centre of the photograph, with the Rita Hayworth Gala Steering Committee at the Alzheimer’s Association Gala held in Chicago on May 11, 2024. At left is Sadruddin Noorani, a member of the Ismaili Muslim community in Chicago, who has been a long-time member of the Rita Hayworth Gala Steering Committee. Pictured with him is his wife, Rukhsana. Photograph: Alzheimer’s Association Chicago.
On May 11th, 2024, over 375 guests gathered for an energetic evening filled with Hollywood glamour at The Old Post Office in Chicago, raising nearly $900,000 to benefit benefit the care, support and research programs of the Alzheimer’s Association. The Gala was hosted by Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, younger sister of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and daughter of Rita Hayworth, who died of the disease on May 14, 1987, at the age of 68. The Gala was emceed by Chicago Bulls’ assistant coach John Bryant. Susan and Jim Draddy received the prestigious Philanthropy Award for their outstanding contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association spanning 15 years.
Princess Yasmin’s mother was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 1980. Rita Hayworth was one of the first celebrities to publicly share her diagnosis. To continue her mother’s legacy and envision a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan established the Rita Hayworth Galas. Since its inception 40 years ago in New York City, the galas have grown into multi-city events that have generated over $87 million for the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission.
In October 2022, at a ceremony held in New York, Philippe Etienne, the Ambassador of France to the United States, decorated Princess Yasmin with France’s Knight of the Legion of Honor for making the fight against Alzheimer’s disease her life’s work.
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May 10, 2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan Honoured with Castelo Branco’s Gold Medal
Leopoldo Martins Rodrigues, Castelo Branco’s Mayor, bestows upon Prince Amyn Aga Khan the city’s gold medal on May 10, 2024. The gold medal is the city’s highest distinction and has been awarded to distinguished recipients since 1985. Photograph: AKDN.
Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, has been honoured with the gold medal of Castelo Branco in recognition of his efforts to promote arts and culture in Portugal and around the world. Castelo Branco in central Portugal is known for its ancient gardens, architectural marvels, and colourful embroidery.
The city is a part of UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) network of creative cities worldwide, particularly in Handicrafts and Popular Arts, thanks to its embroidery. This embroidery, which forms a unique and distinctive cultural landscape, is not just a thing of beauty but also a significant economic driver. It has become a symbol of the city’s rich cultural heritage, adorning sidewalks and buildings. Artisans, committed to preserving this valued tradition, continue to produce specialized embroidery, contributing to its continued relevance within the creative world. The Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon is home to decorative panels embroidered by these skilled artisans.
Map of Portugal, with Castelo Branco in Central Portugal, circled in red. Lisbon, the capital is 225 km southwest. Photograph: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas.
The city’s Mayor, Leopoldo Martins Rodrigues, welcomed Prince Amyn and paid tribute to his contribution to the arts in Europe and beyond. The Mayor, in particular, highlighted Prince Amyn’s contribution to the upliftment of Castelo Branco through the international projection of its tradition of embroidering.
L to R: Nazim Ahmad, the Mayor of Lisbon, Prince Amyn Aga Khan and other guests at the ceremony applaud a musical performance by the city’s symphony orchestra. Photograph: AKDN.
Prince Amyn was accompanied by the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, Nazim Ahmad. Speaking about the significance of art and crafts in today’s world, Ahmed noted:
“Maintaining handicrafts through the centuries is, in my view, a matter of great importance. Not only in the job creation that they ensure, but in maintaining artistic abilities and vision that have endured through the centuries, which can embellish our everyday lives while they tie us silently with the past, our past.”
This prestigious award, the city’s highest distinction, was unanimously approved by the Municipal Council, and presented during the 253rd-anniversary celebrations of Castelo Branco’s elevation to city status.
External links: Please click on the following link(s) for external coverage of honour given to Prince Amyn by Castelo Branco:
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May 2-3, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Inaugurates Cancer Centre in Dar es Salaam; Meets Tanzania’s Prime Minister in Dodoma
May 2, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Inaugurates State-of-the-Art Cancer Centre
Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister unveil the plaque of the Cancer Centre at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam on May 2, 2024. The new state-of-the-art facility represents a big leap forward in the battle against cancer in East Africa. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
On May 2, 2024, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), was joined by Tanzania’s deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr Doto Mashaka Biteko, to inaugurate a cutting-edge Cancer Care Centre at Dar es Salaam’s Aga Khan Hospital. The Hospital is managed by AKHS, which has been operating in Tanzania since the 1920s and counts among the longest-serving healthcare institutions in East Africa.
Pollutants in the air, food and water, and a shift away from protective traditional diets as well as longer lifespans are causing higher rates of cancer in East Africa. The Tanzania Comprehensive Cancer Project (TCCP) has worked to improve this situation over the last four years. Its initiative led to the creation of the Aga Khan Hospital Cancer Centre. The Centre will accommodate 100 patients per day for radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and screening and vaccination services, reducing wait times and helping to cover costs for many patients who could not otherwise afford treatment. Machines with capability for 3D imaging and high-precision radiotherapy will enable state-of-art treatment.
“Our experts will provide world-class, evidence-based services,” explained Dr Harrison Chuwa, Medical Director of the hospital. “The Centre enables anatomical pathology complemented by molecular pathology, which will allow us to profile cancers and offer opportunities for targeted therapies and immunotherapy. We are enhancing our surgical oncology programme, while our radiation oncology programme will offer very advanced techniques that are the first of their kind in the country.”
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Dignitaries and guests attend a tour of the new Cancer Care Centre at the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam, which was inaugurated by Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Tanzania’s deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Doto Mashaka Biteko, on May 2, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan accepts a token of appreciation from Dr. Doto Mashaka Biteko, Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister, on behalf of the Aga Khan Health Services at the inauguration of the Cancer Centre at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam on May 2, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
During his address at the opening ceremony, Dr. Doto Mashaka Biteko conveyed appreciation on behalf of Tanzania’s President, and commended AKDN’s many years of work in the country. “Your decision to build a cancer treatment centre is another testament to your efforts, and this contribution to our country is truly commendable. We thank you very much,” he said.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan in her remarks said:
“Today, to see this incredible tertiary investment in Dar es Salaam is a testament not only to the progress that Tanzania is making in health care, progress that AKDN, Aga Khan Health Services, and Aga Khan University are causing to happen, in the countries where we work, but also to the vision of [the AKDN health] system to be able to provide health care to millions at the primary level, but also provide advances to this level of care, where we’re really seeing the height of technology in health care,” she said, expressing her appreciation to everyone involved.
The project stands as a testament to the potential of public-private partnerships. It has been spearheaded by the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) with support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Tanzanian government, represented at the event by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Doto Mashaka Biteko and Minister of Health Ummy Mwalimu.
“The Centre will bring an outstanding improvement of cancer treatment opportunities in the country,” said Madame Céline Robert, Country Director for AFD. “Indeed, more than 1,000 patients each year, roughly, will be welcomed to this Centre with very high quality equipment and techniques.”
May 3, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Meets Prime Minister of Tanzania
Princess Zahra Aga Khan and the Honourable Kassim Majaliwa, Prime Minister of Tanzania, met on May 3, 2024, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dodoma following the inauguration of a new Cancer Care Centre at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam on the previous day, May 2, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
On the morning of May 3, 2024, Princess Zahra met with the Prime Minister of Tanzania, the Honourable Kassim Majaliwa, at his office in Mlimwa, Dodoma. They discussed matters of mutual interest, and the government recognised the efforts being made by the Aga Khan Development Network to serve the people of Tanzania, particularly in the health and education sectors. AKDN agencies have been present in Tanzania for over a century, working in the fields of poverty alleviation, education, health care, economic development and cultural restoration.
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Video and Photographs: Coverage on Tanzania Prime Minister’s X page (formerly Twitter)
Mheshimiwa Waziri Mkuu amemweleza Kiongozi huyo kuwa Serikali inatambua jitihada kubwa zinazofanywa na Taasisi hiyo hasa katika sekta ya Afya na Elimu na amemuahidi kuwa Serikali itaendelea kuunga mkono juhudi za uwekezaji zinazofanywa na Taasisi ya hiyo. pic.twitter.com/Sk2JZsbJKk
— Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu (@TZWaziriMkuu) May 3, 2024
Other external links: Please click on the following link(s) for external coverage of Princess Zahra’s visit to Tanzania:
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April 24, 2024: Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan Host Community of Portuguese Language Countries at the Diwan of Ismaili Imamat
L to R: Their Excellencies Presidents José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, Carlos Manuel Vila Nova of Sao Tome and Principe, José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste, and Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal at the reception hosted on April 24, 2024, at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon, Portugal. Photograph: AKDN/Fernando Costa.
Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan hosted Heads of State from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and their delegations at a reception held at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat on April 24, 2024. Present with their delegations were Their Excellencies Presidents Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal, José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste (East Timor) and Carlos Manuel Vila Nova of São Tomé and Príncipe. Other guests at the event included the President of Portugal’s Parliament, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel and other senior state officials and diplomats. The President of the Ismaili Council for Portugal, Yasmin Bhudarally, and the leaders of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in Portugal also attended.
The reception comes during this week’s 50th anniversary commemoration of the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974, a turning point in Portugal’s history. Since the 1930s, Portugal and its colonies had been ruled by an authoritarian government. But on 25 April 1974, a spontaneous, peaceful revolution broke out, which led to an overthrow of the dictatorship and a rapid decolonisation process.
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President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa addresses guests at a reception for leaders from Lusophone countries at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon, Portugal, on April 24, 2024.
Photograph: AKDN/Fernando Costa.
“On the eve of April 25 — the day dedicated to the struggle for peace and multilateralism, the Ismaili Imamat is an example of peace-building and multilateralism in the world,” said Porrtugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in his remarks.
Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, highlighted the value of multilateralism in uniting people of diverse faiths and cultures by promoting knowledge, dialogue, and pluralism. He also spoke of AKDN’s work around the world. “Social responsibility guides our action at all levels,” he said, “in different corners of the world, for the economic, social and cultural development of the populations with whom we cooperate.”
External links — Please click on the following link(s) for more coverage of reception hosted at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat by Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad:
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April 22, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Receives Credentials from New Canadian Representative to the Ismaili Imamat
His Excellency Ralph Goodale, Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, presents his credentials to Prince Rahim Aga Khan as Canada’s new representative to the Ismaili Imamat at a ceremony held on April 22, 2024, at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon, Portugal. Photograph: AKDN/Fernando Costa.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan, on behalf of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, received credentials from His Excellency, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom, as Canada’s Representative to the Ismaili Imamat.
Mr Goodale is the third appointee by Canada since the signing in 2014 of a Protocol of Understanding between the Government of Canada and the Ismaili Imamat. The Protocol enables reciprocal appointments of diplomatic representatives. Mr. Goodale succeeds Marc-André Blanchard, Canada’s then Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, and Gordon Campbell, Canada’s then High Commissioner in the United Kingdom. The ceremony took take place on April 22, 2024, at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Prince Rahim commented on the long relationship between the Ismaili Imamat and Canada. “The relationship, as you know, goes back more than 50 years…The work we have done with the Canadian Government has attempted to address some of the major issues of our time, and continues to do so. Canada has been a preferred partner for the Imamat in the work we do internationally, but domestically as well.”
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Prince Rahim Aga Khan (seated at right) and Ismaili leaders look on as credentials of Canada’s new representative to the Ismaili Imamat, His Excellency Ralph Goodale, Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (standing, first at left) are presented at a ceremony held at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon, Portugal, on April 22, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Fernando Costa.
In responding on behalf of the Government of Canada, Representative Goodale paid tribute to the Ismaili community in Canada:
“Within Canada, the Ismaili community has flourished for the past 50 years and it contributes very significantly to enhancing the strength and the prosperity of our diverse country. Through their unwavering dedication to service and to helping other people and those in need, the Ismaili Muslim community exemplifies the best dedication to service and to helping other people and those in need, the Ismaili Muslim community exemplifies the best of what it means to be Canadian.
“Canada has been inspired by the work of the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network to reduce poverty, improve education and healthcare, empower women and girls, and help develop infrastructure in underserved regions. Over many years, these efforts have improved the lives of quite literally millions of people around the world.”
In announcing Representative Goodale’s appointment in December 2023, the Government of Canada said that it “reflects the importance that Canada places on its partnership with the Ismaili Imamat. As Representative of Canada to the Ismaili Imamat, High Commissioner Goodale will work to further enhance relations through strategic-level dialogue and collaboration on areas of shared interest, such as international development, foreign policy, peace, and security, and on shared trade and economic objectives, as well as on the promotion of human rights, pluralism, and respect for diversity. Canada and the Ismaili Imamat enjoy a long-standing, mutually beneficial relationship, including through the work of the Aga Khan Development Network and Aga Khan Foundation Canada, both of which are strategic partners of Canada in the promotion of democracy and reduction of poverty around the world.”
External links — Please click on the following link(s) for more coverage of Prince Rahim being presented with credentials from Canada’s new representative to the Ismaili Imamat:
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March 11, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Westminster Abbey for Annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration
Princess Zahra Aga Khan attended the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday, March 11, 2024. Princess Zahra is listed as an Honorary Steward, Representing the Vice President of the Royal Commonwealth Society, on page 5 of The 2024 Commonwealth Day Service of Service Booklet.
In attendance in a program consisting of prayers, singing, and vibrant and colourful dancing were members of the Royal Family including Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. His Majesty King Charles III did not attend the ceremony following recent medical procedures but delivered an inspiring speech. Several prominent Ismaili leaders, including Shafik Sachedina, President Naushad Jivraj of the Aga Khan Council for the UK, Professor Zayn Kassam of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, and Naguib Kheraj, were among the invitees to the event and were prominently seated in the large audience. Readers can watch the entire ceremony on the BBC YouTube channel below. Princess Zahra and Ismaili leaders are in the video between the 22-26 and 30-32 minutes marks during dance and musical performances by the Ghetto Kids from Uganda and Callum Scott and Jacob Portelli.
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Coverage of Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s Visit to Kyrgyzstan
March 25, 2024: Prince Rahim’s Visit to Kyrgyzstan – A Comprehensive Report and Video Coverage
Further to Barakah’s coverage of Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s visit to Kyrgyzstan, Akipress News Agency issued a comprehensive report of the visit on March 25, 2024, including meetings and statements made by the Prince and leaders of Kyrgyzstan. Please click Education, climate, and mountain communities. Prince Rahim Aga Khan visited Kyrgyzstan. Please also watch the following short YouTube video from an official meeting that took place during the visit. The video is part of the Akipress report.
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March 1, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets President of Kyrgyzstan at State Residence
We highly appreciate the work of the AKDN, and the assistance provided in addressing socio-economic issues and improving the living conditions of vulnerable populations in the mountain areas of the country — President Sadyr Japarov
Prince Rahim Aga Khan meets with His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the Ala Archa State Residence in the capital Bishkek on March 1, 2024: Photograph: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyrgyzstan.
This is an important moment to reinforce our long-standing friendship. We look forward to deeper cooperation towards our shared goal of a peaceful and prosperous future for this beautiful country” — Prince Rahim Aga Khan
The websites of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and AKIpress report that Prince Rahim Aga Khan on March 1, 2024 met with His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the Ala Archa State Residence in Bishkek. Prince Rahim’s official visit to the country comes at the invitation of the President.
The two leaders discussed the AKDN’s long-standing presence in the Kyrgyz Republic and their shared desire to deepen cooperation in climate change mitigation and adaptation, the enhancement of education and economic opportunity, and the safeguarding of mountain areas, including their ecosystems, cultural heritage, habitat, and overall quality of life.
Map of Kyrgyzstan showing the capital Bishkek (rectangle) and Naryn, the location of the University of Central Asia (rounded). Annotated by Barakah. Map: Perry-Castañeda Library, University of Texas at Austin.
President Japarov conveyed his gratitude for the projects that the AKDN has implemented in Kyrgyzstan: “We highly appreciate the work of the AKDN, and the assistance provided in addressing socio-economic issues and improving the living conditions of vulnerable populations in the mountain areas of the country. Taking into account the international reputation of your institution, and its activities in developing mountain areas, I invite the AKDN to join our efforts in combating the negative effects of climate change, biodiversity conservation, and disaster prevention in mountain areas, and to implement the activities of the Global Plan of Action.”
Prince Rahim said: “I am delighted to be back in the Kyrgyz Republic following my last visit in 2016. This is an important moment to reinforce our long-standing friendship. We look forward to deeper cooperation towards our shared goal of a peaceful and prosperous future for this beautiful country.”
Tweets on ‘X’ about Prince Rahim’s Visit to Kyrgyzstan
Prince Rahim today met with His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the Ala Archa State Residence in Bishkek. Prince Rahim’s official visit to the country comes at the invitation of the President.https://t.co/RTekGJcJi9 pic.twitter.com/i9WPQTYoIs
— The Ismaili (@TheIsmaili) March 1, 2024
External links — Please click on the following link(s) for more coverage of Prince Rahim’s visit to Kyrgyzstan:
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February 29, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Arrives in Kyrgyzstan and Meets First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Prince Rahim Aga Khan, seated at left with members of his delegation, meets with Asein Isaevin, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, seated directly across. Photograph: AKIPress.
AKIpress, the Kyrgyz Republic’s first independent news agency, has announced the arrival on February 29, 2024 of Prince Rahim Aga Khan, in Kyrgyzstan. Prince Rahim was met at Manas International Airport in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek by Asein Isaev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. Formerly Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador to India, Isaev was appointed to the current position in November 2022. The parties held a brief meeting and discussed the program of the visit and the meeting with the country’s leadership. News and photographs of Prince Rahim’s arrival also appear on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Please see full report in English with photographs by clicking AKIPress.
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Coverage of Princess Zahra Aga Khan’s 6-Day Visit to kENYA
February 20, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Visits Kisumu to Commemorate Aga Khan Hospital Expansion
Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Helen N’Garnim Ganga, Regional East African Director of the French Development Agency, unveil the plaque to commemorate the expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu, on February 20, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Located in Kisumu, the third-largest city in Kenya, the Aga Khan Hospital currently serves nearly 600,000 people in the Lake region bloc and even receives patients from Uganda and bordering towns of Tanzania. Over the years, the hospital has become a hub of qualified doctors and nurses who provide cutting-edge care to the community. The hospital, operated by the Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) Kenya, was first established as an 18-bed dispensary and maternity home in 1952, and grew into a 46-bed facility by 1985. Today, it is an ultra-modern, 123-bed, state-of-the-art institution that provides integrated healthcare services, offering advanced clinical programs in cardiology, oncology, neurosciences, critical care, and maternal-child health.
Princess Zahra, who is on a 6-day visit to Kenya visited Kisumu on February 20, 2024, to celebrate the Hospital’s expansion: “This hospital project is embedded in a regional system, which is now novel, exceptional, and probably has a very long way to go,” said Princess Zahra. She added, “It provides affordable, quality care to the people in the region, and it’s part of a network structure that makes affordable care available to every level of the population.”
The Government of France through its French Development Agency generously contributed to Aga Khan Hospital expansion. This is noted in the expansion plaque (see photograph, above) that was unveiled during Princess Zahra’s visit.
External links — click on the following link(s) for more photographs and reports of Princess Zahra’s visit to Kisumu Aga Khan Hospital:
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February 19, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Joins Students to Celebrate the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa’s 20th Anniversary
Princess Zahra Aga Khan and the Head of the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Mr. Colin Webster, join students and staff for a group photograph during the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the Academy on February 19, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Tha Aga Khan Academy Mombasa was inaugurated by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and the former president of Kenya, the late Mwai Kibaki, on December 20, 2003. The Mombasa Academy is the first in an integrated, global network of residential schools known as the Aga Khan Academies, with other campuses located in Hyderabad, India; Maputo, Mozambique; and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
As part of her current 6-day visit to Kenya, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, on Monday, February 19, 2024, joined students, staff, and guests to celebrate the Academy’s 20th anniversary.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan joins students, staff, and guests to celebrate the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa’s 20th anniversary on February 19, 2024. Seated next to her is Mr Colin Webster, Head of the Mombasa Academy. Photograph: AKDN/Shama Hakim Manji.
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Princess Zahra Aga Khan waves to students and staff of the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, gathered for the school’s 20th anniversary celebration on February 19, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
To mark the occasion, Princess Zahra cut a cake outside the Commons building and joined the entire school for a group photograph. Students presented a gift to her on stage and also prepared a gift for Mawlana Hazar Imam. They requested her to pass their gratitude to Hazar Imam for his vision in establishing the Aga Khan Academies.
In her address Princess Zahra said:
“Schools are optimistic places. Although young people go through many challenging transitions in their lives, we aim to make the Academy a positive and memorable experience for all, one that helps young people to set the right course for their lives and build their character and attributes as leaders. The purpose of schooling here the is not merely to support students to pass exams to enable them to enter the next phase of their education. Of course, exams are important, but the Academy embarked on a broader ambition, one that is at the heart of AKDN’s work for the betterment of society.”
In his welsome address, Mr. Colin Webster, the Head of the Academy in Mombasa said:
“From the beginning, the Academy has asked students not just to be leaders but to be ethical leaders. This is something the world often feels in short supply of,” Mr Webster added. “More than anything we prepare our students to go out and live in a pluralistic world. Today, our students get to experience that pluralism in the student body with over 20-25 different nationalities and those who practise many different faiths.”
As part of the Academies mission, the Academy admits students based on merit, regardless of their ability to pay, with over 50 percent of the students receiving some form of financial assistance.
FLASHBACK 2003 — The Inauguration of the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa
His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki speaking at the inauguration of the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa on December 19, 2003, as Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan looks on. Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte.
External links — click on the following link(s) for additional coverage of the 20th anniversay celebration of the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, and Princess Zahra’s visit to Kenya:
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February 18, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Expresses Satisfaction With Renovations at Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa
Princess Zahra Aga Khan on a visit to the Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa on February 18, 2024, to see the renovation and the enhanced capacity it has brought about. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), and Mr Bertrand Willocquet, Country Director of AFD, visited the Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa, on February 18, 2024, and expressed their satisfaction with the renovation and the enhanced capacity it has brought about.
The renovation project represents a total investment of $12.2 million, with significant support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The refurbishment has transformed the 86-bed facility into a state-of-the-art 115-bed secondary hospital, offering comprehensive, integrated health services to the communities it serves. The facility now features a dedicated Accidents and Emergency Unit, a larger Intensive Care Unit, the region’s first private-sector Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the inaugural Sleep Lab utilising cutting-edge technology for diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. Holding Level 5 certification from SafeCare Health Standards, the hospital is well-equipped to offer specialised care in cardiology, oncology, neurology, psychiatry, advanced surgeries, and more. The completed renovation of the Aga Khan Hospital marks a milestone in its ongoing commitment to provide quality health care to a population of nearly 1.2 million people.
External links — click on the following link(s) for more photographs and reports of Princess Zahra’s visit to Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa:
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February 17, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Addresses AKU Convocation in Nairobi, Kenya
Princess Zahra Aga Khan at the AKU Convocation ceremony held on February 17, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. She is seated next to Education CS Ezekiel Machogu, second from left. Photograph: AKU
More than 730 students graduated from the Aga Khan University (AKU) on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at ceremonies attended by Princess Zahra Aga Khan and other dignitaries, including Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Honorable Ezekiel Machogu, who read a speech by President of Kenya, His Excellency William Ruto. In total, 391 students graduated in Pakistan and 332 in East Africa, including 159 in Kenya, 106 in Uganda and 67 in Tanzania. Eleven students graduated from the London-based Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations. The graduates were awarded degrees in almost two dozen fields in nursing, medicine, education, journalism and the study of Muslim civilisations. Almost 70 percent of the members of the Class of 2023 are women.
“On graduating, you return to a world that is full of daunting challenges but also of endless possibilities,” Princess Zahra Aga Khan said in Nairobi, speaking on behalf of AKU’s founder and Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan. “Continue to strive with courage and optimism to grasp opportunities to serve your communities and contribute to a more pluralistic and peaceful world.”
“I have great faith in this group of men and women,” President Ruto said in the remarks shared by Cabinet Secretary Machogu. “The reason for my faith is simple: I know what the Aga Khan University stands for. It stands for high standards, access based on merit and service to society.”
Princess Zahra Aga Khan applauds graduands at the AKU convocation ceremony held in Nairobi on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
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Princess Zahra Aga Khan and AKU President and Vice-Chancellor Sulaiman Shahabuddin look on as an AKU graduate poses for a photograph during the AKU Convocation ceremony held in Nairobi on Saturday, February 17, 2024. AKU graduates were awarded degrees in 22 fields in nursing, medicine, education, journalism, and the study of Muslim civilizations. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Princess Zahra detailed some of the many achievements that have made the University’s 40th anniversary year one of the most consequential in its history. AKU celebrated the anniversary on March 16, 2023. “We are hopeful that these new and continuing programmes and facilities will make AKU an increasingly powerful platform for the education of leaders, the creation of relevant knowledge and the delivery of world-class education and health care,” said Princess Zahra, who credited the Governments of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Pakistan, and the East African Community, with creating an enabling environment for the University.
AKU President and Vice Chancellor Sulaiman Shahabuddin called the day a “crowning moment” for the graduates. “That AKU has been able to achieve so much across its four decades is above all thanks to its founder, Chancellor and chief benefactor, His Highness the Aga Khan,” President Shahabuddin said. “His Highness’s vision continues to guide us and continually inspire us with the strength to make bold decisions that keep AKU at the forefront of innovation, quality and impact.”
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Tweets on ‘X’ about the AKU Convocation
More than 730 students in four countries graduated from the Aga Khan University on Saturday at ceremonies attended by Princess Zahra Aga Khan and other dignitaries, including Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Honorable Ezekiel Machogu, who read a speech by President of… pic.twitter.com/ukPHqbHWFH
— AKU Graduate School of Media and Communications (@AKU_GSMC) February 17, 2024
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External links — click on the following link(s) for additional coverage of the AKU Convocation and Princess Zahra’s visit to Kenya:
Note: Although various media carry the same heading in the links shown above, the reports and photographs differ significantly.
Also, see our earlier reports, below.
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February 16, 2024: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Meets Kenya’s President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto
Princess Zahra Aga Khan greets Kenya’s President, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto, at State House in Nairobi on February 16, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan arrived in Kenya on February 15, 2024 for a six-day visit to attend the global convocation ceremony of the Aga Khan University (AKU), and to visit a number of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) projects. The current longest-serving member of AKU’s Board of Trustees, she will speak at the ceremony on behalf of AKU’s Chancellor, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, and its Board. More than 730 students in Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda, and the UK will graduate this year. The convocation ceremony in Nairobi will be covered live and shown on The Ismaili TV on February 17, 2024, beginning at 07:00 AM (Toronto) / 12:00 noon (London) / 3:00 PM (Nairobi) / 5:00 PM (Karachi).
Princess Zahra Aga Khan in conversation with the First Lady of Kenya, Her Excellency Rachel Ruto, on February 16, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Akbar Hakim.
On Friday, February 16, Princess Zahra met with the First Lady of Kenya, Her Excellency Rachel Ruto, at the Serena Hotel Nairobi, and later called on the President of the Republic, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto, at State House in Nairobi.
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Tweet on ‘X’ by President Ruto
External links — click on the following link(s) for more photographs and reports of Princess Zahra’s visit to Kenya:
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February 11, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets President William Ruto of Kenya in Dubai
Digital journalist Brian Oruta reports for the Kenyan newspaper The Star that the President of Kenya, William Ruto, met with Prince Rahim Aga Khan on Sunday, February 11, 2024, in Dubai. President Ruto thanked Prince Rahim for the significant contributions of the AKDN to Kenya’s development and offered his administration’s support to further strengthen the collaboration. The talks also covered the ongoing engagement of the Ismaili Imamat in Kenya in areas of social inclusion, culture, education and early childhood development and care. The Star report also notes that Princess Zahra Aga Khan is expected to call upon President Ruto later this week in Nairobi when she attends a convocation at the Aga Khan University.
Dubai is hosting the World Government Summit 2024 from February 12-14, and according to the agenda President Ruto is scheduled to give the main speech on February 13.
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February 6, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank
Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, meet in Washington DC on February 6, 2024. Photograph: The World Bank via The Ismaili.
The websites of the Aga Khan Develoment Network (AKDN) and The Ismaili report that on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, met the President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington, DC.
Prince Rahim and Ajay Banga discussed the decades-long development partnership between the World Bank and the various institutions of the AKDN in Africa, South and Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as potential areas of future cooperation, including around climate action, a priority shared by the World Bank and AKDN. The World Bank and AKDN have collaborated in the fields of industry, infrastructure, microfinance, clean energy, water supply, health and nutrition, among others. The partnership has extended across most of AKDN’s principal geographies, with particular recent emphasis on collaboration in Afghanistan.
Born, raised and educated in India, Ajay Banga began his 5-year tenure as the World Bank President on June 2, 2023, after being elected as the President on May 3, 2023. He was nominated to the position in February 2023 by the Biden administration. He most recently served as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic. Previously, he was President and CEO of Mastercard.
February 6, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Ajay Banga on X (formerly Twitter)
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FLASHBACK: 2014 AND 2005
MAY 7, 2014: In the Twitter (now X) photograph shown below, Mawlana Hazar Imam is seen meeting with Jim Yong Kim, who was the World Bank President from July 1, 2012 – February 1, 2019.
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January 25, 2005: The following is an excerpt from World Bank President Jim Wolfensohn’s Tribute to His Highness the Aga Khan at the Vincent Scully Award Ceremony. Wolfensohn (d. November 2020) was the President of the World Bank from June 1, 1995 to May 31, 2005.
James Wolfensohn, World Bank President (1995 – 2005), speaking on January 25, 2005 in Washington DC when the National Building Museum presented its sixth prestigious Vincent Scully Prize to His Highness the Aga Khan in recognition of his contributions to promoting design excellence and improving the built environment in the Muslim world.
“…Having seen him [the Aga Khan] in many, many parts of the world, and having talked to him at length on many subjects, there is one thing which distinguishes him, which is not in the buildings and not in the organization. It is the extraordinary sense of humanity that he has. The great depth of real feeling for real people wherever they find themselves in society. He is a holy man. He is the leader of his faith. He’s a man who represents the very best in Islam. Something that all too often we tend to forget these days. That Islam carries with it values and a culture from which we can all learn. And so it is especially wonderful tonight that he’s being honoured with this prize for the built environment at a time that we’re also thinking of the work that he’s done at the human level and, indeed, the level of faith and morality which he does so remarkably well….We salute you, Your Highness.” — Please read full tribute HERE.
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February 22, 2005: In the following picture, Mawlana Hazar Imam (left) is seen with Jim Wolfensohn at a press conference following the launch of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM)
The Aga Khan (left) at a Press Conference on February 22, 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland, announcing the launch of the new Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) to help some of the world’s most vulnerable populations through innovative services including micro-insurance, small housing loans, savings, education and health accounts, and support for small entrepreneurs seeking to develop businesses related to restored cultural assets. The Aga Khan was joined at the news conference by Jim Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank (right) and John Fergusson, AKDN Head of the Department of Public Affairs. Photo: AKDN/Jean-Luc Ray.
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January 18, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Meets President Steinmeier of Germany
Prince Rahim Aga Khan and His Excellency Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, pictured in Berlin on Monday, January 18, 2024. Photograph: AKDN/Jesco Denzel.
The website of the Aga Khan Development (AKDN) reports that on Monday, January 18, 2024, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, older son of the Hereditary 49th Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, met the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at the Bellevue Palace, Berlin.
President Steinmeier became Germany’s president on March 19, 2017. He was previously federal minister of foreign affairs from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2017, as well as vice chancellor of Germany from 2007 to 2009.
Prince Rahim and President Steinmeier discussed the decades-long development partnership between public and private institutions in Germany and AKDN in Africa, South and Central Asia and the Middle East, and potential areas of future cooperation. Germany and the AKDN have collaborated in the fields of industry, tourism, financial services, clean energy, water supply, health, education, community development, urban revitalisation and infrastructure. The dialogue also covered the ongoing engagement of the Ismaili Imamat in Germany and in Europe in domains that include social inclusion, culture, education and early childhood development and care.
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2014 Flashback: His Highness the Aga Khan Meets Then German Foreign Minister
As mentioned above, the current German President, Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was the country’s foreign minister from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2017. In this photograph he is seen pictured with Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, in Berlin on February 5, 2014, when the two met to discuss cooperation between the German government and AKDN. The discussions focused on intensifying joint efforts by Germany and AKDN to stabilise fragile states. Photograph: AKDN/Zahur Ramji.
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2006 Flashback: His Highness the Aga Khan Receives Tolerance Award
Dr. Friedemann Greiner, Director and Chairman of the Jury (left), presenting the Tolerance Award 2006 to Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, as the then Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, (right), looks on. Photograph: AKDN/Zahur Ramji.
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January 9, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan MeetS President Charles Michel of the European Council
This is an update to our earlier report that Prince Rahim Aga Khan was scheduled to meet Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, on January 9, 2024, at 12:00.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan meets the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, to discuss cooperation between the European Union and AKDN. Photograph: European Union.
The AKDN and The Ismaili websites both report that Prince Rahim met with Charles Michel in Brussels on January 9, 2024, to discuss cooperation between the European Union and the Aga Khan Development Network in countries and regions of shared interest.
Charles Michel, who served as Belgium’s Prime Minister between 2014 and 2019, is the President of the European Council since 2019. The members of the European Council are the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the European Council President (Charels Michel) and the President of the European Commission.
The EU has been a longstanding partner of the AKDN across a wide range of fields, including the fight against climate change, development cooperation in multiple sectors, and humanitarian response. His Highness the Aga Khan and the then President of the European Council, José Manuel Barroso, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2007.
FLASHBACK 2007: The signing of MOU between the AKDN and the European Commission
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and the then President Barroso, President of the European Commission, make statements after the signing of the Joint Declaration between the European Commission and the AKDN in Brussels, Belgium, January 23, 2007. The Joint Declaration aimed to establish a framework for future collaboration. Photograph: AKDN/Gary Otte.
External links — click on the following link(s) for more photographs of the meeting:
Date posted: January 9, 2024.
Last updated: July 5, 2024 (updates, Imamat Day Reception, earlier Prince Amyn in Houston, Princess Zahra at Maynooth in Ireland; and Prince Amyn awarded medal in Sintra, Portugal).
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