DUSHANBE, Aug 28: The Aga Khan and Tajikistan President Emomali Rakhmonov signed a treaty here on Monday to launch a university dedicated to studies on mountainous regions and societies.

The "University of Central Asia" will benefit 25 million people in Central Asia who depend for their lives and livelihood on the earth's highest mountain ranges, says a press release.

The Aga Khan will sign another treaty in this respect with Kyrghyzstan President Askar Akayev at Bishkek on Wednesday, the press release added.

At the Dushanbe ceremony, the Aga Khan announced an initial endowment of five million dollars for the proposed university's programmes in Tajikistan.

The university is intended to serve people living in the mountainous regions of Pakistan, China, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrghyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan __ an area where the Karakorum, Hindu Kush, Pamir and Tien Shan ranges meet.