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[India News]: New Delhi, Nov.26 : The spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, His Highness, the Aga Khan, today called on Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in the capital.
The Aga Khan is meeting the Indian leadership to discuss the broadening framework of activities being undertaken by the Aga Khan Development Network in the country.

Khan met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, yesterday.

Founded in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation is the principal grant- making agency for social development within the Shia Ismaili Imamat. Aga Khan is its founder and chairman.

With a small staff, a host of co-operating agencies and thousands of volunteers, the Aga Khan Foundation reaches out to vulnerable populations on four continents, irrespective of their race, religion, political persuasion or gender. In 1999, it funded 120 projects in 13 countries and spent 88.9 million dollars.

Khan would also be inviting Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to preside over the award presentation ceremony of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture to be held in New Delhi on November 27.

The award was created in 1977 to recognise outstanding examples of contemporary design, promote the conservation of Islamic architecture's urban heritage and highlight the vital role it can play in the life of communities.

The award, which carries a prize money of 500,000 dollars, is the largest architectural award in the world and is presented every three years. (ANI)