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In Tajikistan, the Aga Khan’s philanthropy and investment has raised hospitals, hotels, colleges, crops – and in some quarters, suspicion. This is the fifth story in a series of articles on philanthropy in TOL’s coverage area.

DUSHANBE | On a sunny day in late October 2006, Shah Karim al-Hussayni, better known as the Aga Khan IV, stepped on to the newly built Ishkashim Bridge over the Panj River and made a speech that was heard simultaneously in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, the countries on either side.

In Tajikistan, the Aga Khan’s philanthropy and investment has raised hospitals, hotels, colleges, crops – and in some quarters, suspicion. This is the fifth story in a series of articles on philanthropy in TOL’s coverage area.

The hope remains in Tajikistan that, like the bridges he and his organization have built between their country and Afghanistan, between philanthropy and profit, the Aga Khan can build a bridge that links different Muslim communities – and benefits both sides.

2008, October 22: Asia-Plus - His Highness the Aga Khan, will arrive in Tajikistan on October 31 for a five-day visit.

2008, November 2. Prince Aga Khan Prince arrived to Tajikistan on October 31 at the invitation of the Tajik Government. On November 5 Prince Aga Khan will arrive in Kyrgyzstan to visit construction of Aga Khan University in Naryn oblast. kabar.kg

October 21, 2008, Asia-Plus -- Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, is arriving in Dushanbe today afternoon for a short visit, according to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Dushanbe Office. During his stay in Dushanbe, Prince Amyn Aga Khan is expected to review AKDN programs in Tajikistan, including project for construction of the Dushanbe Serena Hotel. http://www.asiaplus.tj/en/news/16/40764.html [Author: Victoria Naumova]

June 1, 2009: Dushanbe, Tajikistan - Asia-Plus -- Prince Rahim Aga Khan, first son of His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, is arriving in Tajikistan tomorrow on a three-working visit. Read the news [here] [Photos]

2009, October 12: DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - Asia-Plus -- President Emomali Rahmon and His Highness the Aga Khan, the Spiritual Leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, officially opened The Ismaili Center in Dushanbe today afternoon. The opening ceremony was attended by high-ranking Tajik state officials. [More on this visit]

The Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe was opened on 12 October 2009 by His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Mawlana Hazar Imam. It was the first such Centre in Central Asia — a region that has been home to Ismaili Muslims for more than a thousand years.

In 1994, President Rakhmonov of Tajikistan and His Highness the Aga Khan conceived the idea of a new university designed to address the unique educational, economic and cultural needs of mountain communities.
http://www.ucentralasia.org/index.htm

Self-reliance, productivity, compassion and thoughtful concern characterize the first programs initiated by Mawlana Hazar Imam for the betterment of the people of Tajikistan and for the deepening of contacts with the jamat in that country. These programs and contacts take place, however, at a time when Tajikistan is experiencing profound political and economic changes.

The Swiss Fela company has recently delivered satellite equipment for a monitoring system and for early warnings at Lake Sarez [over 3,000 m up in the Pamirs in eastern Tajikistan] to Tajikistan, Rustam Bobojonov, coordinator of a World Bank project on reducing the risk of Lake Sarez overflow, told Avesta on 4 August.He said the total cost of the equipment is 1.5m dollars.

Tajikistan's national airline on Thursday began passenger service to Afghanistan and officials announced plans to build five bridges connecting the countries.
Both moves apparently reflect increased confidence in Afghanistan's stability following the fall of the Taliban and growing recognition of Tajikistan's importance as a conduit for aid and materiel badly needed by Afghanistan.
The Tajikistan Airlines decision to open service between Dushanbe and Kabul, the Afghan capital, was largely in response to demand by businessmen, airline officials said. The flights are expected to go once a week.

Special equipment for monitoring the situation around Lake Sarez in eastern Tajikistan is now being installed by a World Bank project working on risk mitigation in the area, a step to ensure early warning for the vulnerable population in the region.'This equipment is for monitoring the situation around Lake Sarez, the dam and the Bartang valley, including seismic activity, landslides, water, wind speed and so on,' Rustam Bobojonov, a coordinator for the World Bank's Lake Sarez risk mitigation project, told IRIN from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, on Thursday.

Two experts from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) are in [Tajikistan's] Mountainous Badakhshon Autonomous Region to see for themselves the condition of the Pamir-1 hydroelectric power station, particularly its tunnel, Asia-Plus learnt from an official from the organization, Matthew Scanlon. He said that AKFED intends to provide Pamir-1 with financial assistance as its first investment. The funds will be used to buy spare parts for turbines, a transformer and other components, and also to prepare for the autumn and winter seasons.

The spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan, today inaugurated a new bridge crossing a river between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.The 100-meter-long bridge across the Pyandzh river was created to promote trade between the two neighbors. It is the second bridge built in Tajikistan's southeastern Gorno-Badakhshan region and funded by the Aga Khan Development Network, which started funding developments in Tajikistan in 1993.

The Aga Khan arrived in Tajikistan on Sunday as part of six-day visit to that country and its mountainous neighbour, Kyrgyzstan, where he will lay the cornerstones for two of three campuses for the future University of Central Asia (UCA), the world's first internationally chartered institution of higher education.

The foundation stone of The Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe was laid on Monday afternoon by Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmonov on a 25,500 square-metre site in the centre of the city.President Rahmonov underlined the commitment of his government to provide enabling conditions for the development of institutions promoting 'freedom of conscience, pluralism and faith' as well as 'exchange of opinions and national accord in society.'

H.H. The Aga Khan, arrived at 5:00 PM at the Dushanbe Airport on August 29 where a large crowd was waiting to welcome him.On 30th of August, he attended the Dushanbe International Fresh Water Forum which is one of the main event of this 2003 Water Year. The Forum is held from 29th August to September 1st and the whole city is filled with boards and colourful reminders of this event.

His Highness the Aga Khan today launched a landmark cultural centre here marking a milestone in the 1300 year history of the Ismaili Muslim community in Central Asia.
The Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe, when completed, will be comparable in scope and standing to existing major centres in London, Vancouver and Lisbon and those at advanced planning stages in Toronto and Dubai.

Two experts from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) are in [Tajikistan's] Mountainous Badakhshon Autonomous Region to see for themselves the condition of the Pamir-1 hydroelectric power station, particularly its tunnel, Asia-Plus learnt from an official from the organization, Matthew Scanlon. He said that AKFED intends to provide Pamir-1 with financial assistance as its first investment. The funds will be used to buy spare parts for turbines, a transformer and other components, and also to prepare for the autumn and winter seasons.