Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

THE rescue of great houses from decay has been one of the enduring romantic causes of the last half-century. Rarely has it been done amid grander scenery or with a keener sense of social purpose than in northern Pakistan, where the Aga Khan is engaged in the repair and re-use of a series of remarkable palace-forts high in the western Himalayas.

The Ismaeli sect’s spiritual leader Prince Karim Aga Khan met President General Pervez Musharraf here on Monday to exchange views on various issues, particularly the developmental projects started by the Aga Khan Foundation in the country.

President General Pervez Musharraf’s visit to a renovated fort in the Shigar Valley in Skardu District, Northern Areas, was postponed because of heavy rain in the area, sources told Daily Times on Monday. The president will visit the region today (Tuesday).

The army and Northern Areas administration have finalized arrangements for President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Skardu and Gilgit on Monday. Official sources said arrangements for the president’s visit had been finalized, but they were keeping their fingers crossed as far as the weather, which had been obstructing flights to the region for the last three days, was concerned.

Intermittent rain in the last three days had prevented Prince Karim Aga Khan from flying into Skardu.

The army and security agencies strengthened security arrangements in the Northern Areas on Saturday ahead of an expected visit of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prince Karim Aga Khan to the Northern Areas on Sunday. Sources said that heavy police contingents had started rehearsal in Gilgit and Skardu towns where the president and his guest Aga Khan were scheduled to visit for inaugurating a rehabilitated fort in Shigar and Sust dry port in upper Hunza near the Pakistan-China border.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prince Karim Aga Khan will inaugurate the historical Shiger Fort in Skardu district. All arrangements have been finalised in this connection and the fort renovated by AKCSP. Chief Secretary Northern Areas Major (retd) Nadeem Manzoor and IGP NAs Sarmad Saeed visited the Shiger Fort and adjoining areas to review the security arrangements. This would be the first ever visit of President Pervez Musharraf and Aga Khan to Shiger. Later, they will proceed to Sost border along with a high-level delegation to inaugurate the Sost Dry Port.

Prince Karim Agha Khan and President Gen Pervez Musharraf will visit the Northern Areas in the last week of this month, sources told Dawn. Northern Areas administration and the District Council in a meeting reviewed preparations and arrangements for the visit.

The meeting was presided over by Chief Secretary Nadeem Manzoor. Chairman District Council Gilgit Muhammad Hussain was given a briefing about the visit and preparations for a public gathering.