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The Heritage Society
Last updated: February 19, 2005 at 23:41 EST. |
AGA KHAN RECEIVES KBE2003, December 31: MHI received the KBE Order of the British Empire this day. New Year Honours: Diplomatic Service and Overseas List - Knight Commander (KBE) - Aga Khan IV, His Highness Prince Karim, For service international development, especly in Asia and Africa, and to UK-French relations. [More]
| AGA KHAN FUND OFFERS HIGHEST BID FOR PAKISTAN'S LARGEST BANK2003, December 30: ISLAMABAD: The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) on Monday gave the highest bid of Rs 22.409 billion ($389 million) for acquiring 51 per cent strategic stake in Habib Bank Limited (HBL). It was the biggest transaction in the history of Pakistan. [Various sources] [Dawn] [The News] [Herald Tribune] [Bloomberg] [Financial Times]
| AGA KHAN DECLARES MEDICAL AID FOR ASWAN2003, December 27: Aswan, Egypt: His Highness the Aga Khan on Friday announced a grant of US$ 320,000 for medical equipment by the Om Habibeh Foundation established by the Aga Khan’s late step-grandmother, Om Habibeh, the Begum Sultan Mohamed Shah Aga Khan. [The News] [Dawn]
| NILE HOTEL DIVESTITURE2003, December 23: Parliament has approved the speedy divestiture of Nile Hotel International Limited through a 30-year concession to Serena Tourism Promotion Service SA, a subsidiary of Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. [New Vision, Kampala]
| AGA KHAN LAUNCHES NETWORK OF ACADEMIES2003, December 23: The Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa is a pioneer of a planned network of schools offering an international curriculum in primary and secondary school, according to the Aga Khan Education Services in Kenya. Similar schools will be set up in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Syria, Kyrghyzstan, Tajikistan and later in Afghanistan. [Dawn] [Coastweek 26 Dec.]
| RETHINK EDUCATION POLICY2003, December 22: peaking during the inauguration of the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, His Highness the Aga Khan, rooted for the expansion of higher education opportunities to absorb the thousands of students who graduate from secondary school. He illustrated the point by citing figures indicating that only about 15 per cent of high school leavers ever proceed to university in many developing countries. In Kenya, less than 10 per cent of school leavers go on to university. [Daily Nation 1] [Daily Nation 2] [New Vision] [East African Standard] [Dawn]
| KIBAKI INAUGURATES AGA KHAN ACADEMY2003, December 21: President Mwai Kibaki yesterday officially inaugurated the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, the first of a global network of Aga Khan academies to be established in Africa, Middle East and Asia. The Head of State unveiled a plaque at Kizingo in Mombasa during a ceremony witnessed by His Highness the Aga Khan. [Sunday Nation] [Photos] [Speech] [Amadoo - French] [TV5 - French]
| AGA KHAN TO HOLD TALKS WITH KIBAKI2003, December 19: Nairobi, Kenya: His Highness the Aga Khan, arrives in the country today. During his visit, the Aga Khan will meet President Mwai Kibaki and top Cabinet ministers. He will join the President in the inauguration of the Altex Apparel Factory at the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Athi River. [East African Standard 18 Dec.] [Hi Pakistan] [East African Standard 20 Dec.] [The News] [KBC] [Nation 19 Dec] [Nation 18 Dec] [Kenya Web] [Speech Alltex 19 Dec. 2004]
| AGA KHAN'S GIFT IN GOOD KERRY HANDS2003, December 18: The Aga Khan has been a great lover of Irish racing all through his life. He showed that love is no uncertain fashion with his amazing multimillion euro gift to Irish racing this month. He bought a hotel at the back of the present Curragh stands for an estimated 15 to 20 million euro and presented the whole area occupied by that hotel to the Irish Turf Club, the owners of the Curragh racecourse. This purchase enables Horse Racing Ireland to make the Curragh one of the real gems of the sport in the world. [The Kingdom]
| AGA KHAN HOSPITAL IN MAJOR SURGERY BREAKTHROUGH2003, December 17: Nairobi, Kenya: The Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa has become the first health institution in the Aga Khan network in East Africa to perform open heart surgery. A 43-year-old woman and a 20 year-old man underwent the operation free of charge on Saturday. The development follows the acquisition of a Sh60 million heart - lung machine which was unveiled at the hospital yesterday. The machine was donated by the Medical and Educational Aid to Kenya Foundation. [The Nation]
| FINANCE MINISTER HAILS SERVICES OF AKRSP2003, December 17: ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shuakat Aziz on Monday lauded the achievements of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and pledged the government's firm backing to the initiative. "The government has recently underwritten the $238 million second tranche to the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, which I am told is a strong supporter of the RSPs and is increasingly becoming a major development partner," he said. [The News]
| TAJIK POWER PLANS STILL TREAD WATER2003, December 15: Over three months after the UN Conference on Freshwater in Dushanbe, water-rich, energy-poor Tajikistan is struggling to keep its ambitious hydropower plans afloat. As winter’s routine electricity outages strike Dushanbe, Tajik President Imomali Rahmonov is seeking US financial assistance for the country’s hydroelectric projects. said. [EurasiaNet]
| AGA KHAN ANNONCES FIRST ISMAILI CENTRE IN MIDDLE EAST2003, December 13: His Highness the Aga Khan,Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, today announced the first Ismaili Centre to be built in the Middle East. [AKDN] [Speech] [Photos] [Photos 2] [GN Online 15/12/2003] [Download Speech] [The News] [Testimonies] [High-Res Photos album] [Pics of Tour]
| AGA KHAN ARRIVES IN DUBAI TODAY2003, December 10: On 13th December, the Aga Khan will be present at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ismaili Centre in Dubai which, when completed, will be comparable in scope and standing to existing major centres in London, Vancouver and Lisbon, the one underway in Dushanbe, and the one in an advanced planning stage in Toronto. [AME Info] [Khaleej Times]
| GOVERNOR OFFERS 500-ACRES FOR AKF PROJECTS2003, December 8: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan made the announcement at a reception he hosted on Saturday night at Governor House here in honour of Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili community. [PakNews]
| AGA KHAN ARRIVES IN BAHRAIN2003, December 8: The King and the Aga Khan discussed the Ismaili leader's network of services in the education, health, construction, cultural and financial sectors. [Photos] [Gulf Daily News with Photo] [Gulf Daily News with Photo] [Bahrain Tribune with Photo][Photo]
| AGA KHAN TO FUND RENOVATION OF THE CURRAGH2003, December 8: After declaring three years ago that the Curragh was no longer a world-class facility, the Aga Khan has donated funds to the Irish Turf Club to renovate Ireland’s most famous racecourse. [Thoroughbred Times]
| AGA KHAN SPEAKS ON EDUCATION at AKU CONVOCATION 20032003, December 6: Aga Khan Speaks on Education and the Future of the Ummah Eliminate forever today's dangerous clash of ignorance[Press Release] [Daily Times with Photo] [PakNews] [Speeches and AKU Convocation] [Detailed Schedule of Programme]
| AGA KHAN PLEDGES ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR CHITRAL2003, December 4: Noting that "much more needs to be done for your children and grandchildren," the Aga Khan spoke during short visits to Garam Chashma and Booni, of the need to improve the quality and quantity of agricultural production, to improve access to quality health and education and to diversify the economy. [HiPakistan] [Testimony]
| PAK REPRESENTS AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION FOR INVESTMENT2003, December 4: His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan has stated that Pakistan represents an attractive destination for investment and Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development intends to expand its operations in financial services, telecommunications and tourism business. [Pak News]
| AGA KHAN LEAVES CHITRAL 'PLEASED'2003, December 4: H H Prince Karim Aga Khan left Chitral in a satisfied disposition. At Garam Chashma and Booni, the Aga khan told his followers to live with goodwill and in harmony with their other Muslim brethren. [Chitral News] [Photo]
| AGA KHAN HEADS FOR CHITRAL2003, December 4: As an overcast sky over Chitral clears up early morning, HH Prince Karim Aga Khan is to depart for Chitral from Islamabad to reach here at 0945 Hrs. From the Airport he would fly in a Helicopter to Garam Chashma where he would address a large gathering of his followers. [Chitral News]
| PRINCE AGA KHAN MEETS MUSHARRAF, JAMALI2003, December 3: The spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, Prince Karim Aga Khan held separate meetings with President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali here on Wednesday. [PakTribune 2] [PakTribune 3] [PakNews] [Daily Times with Photo] [The Dawn with Photo] [More Pics]
| AGA KHAN ARRIVES IN ISLAMABAD2003, December 3: Aga Khan arrives in Islamabad (Chitral 03 Dec 03) Prince Karim Aga Khan arrived in Islamabad Tuesday evening. Chitral is teeming with Ismailis from all over not only Pakistan but from Iran, Afghanistan Turkmenistan, South Africa etc. [Chitral News] [Daily Times] [PakTV News Audio] [PakTribune with photo]
| PROJET HYDROELECTRIQUE EN AFGHANISTAN2003, December 1: Une équipe d’ingénieurs indiens se rend dans la province de Bâmyân, au centre de l’Afghanistan, afin de mener un travail d’étude devant déboucher sur la construction d’un barrage hydroélectrique. Le projet, d’un coût total d’1,2 millions de $, est co-financé par le gouvernement indien et l’Aga Khan Development Network. Les travaux devraient débuter en mars et permettre la fourniture d’électricité à la ville de Bâmyân et à 17 villages des environs [Bassirat]
| AGA KHAN DUE TODAY2003, December 1: The Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, arrives here on Tuesday at the start of an official visit to Pakistan. During his stay, he will hold discussions with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and other senior government officials. [The Dawn]
| CHITRAL - AGA KHAN'S VISIT WELCOMED2003, November 30: Ismailis flock towards Chitral to catch a glimpse (Deedar) of their spiritual leader Prince Karim Agha Khan, Ismailis from down country have started moving towards Chitral where the Agha Khan is expected to be on the 4th Dec. [Chitral News 28 Nov.] [Chitral News 21 Nov.] [Chitral News 30 Nov.] [Chitral News 1 Dec.] [Didar Photo Album] [Chitral Photo Album]
| INDIA TO HELP SET UP AFGHAN POWER PLANT2003, November 30: "The Indian government is co-funding the project with the Aga Khan Development Network, that will build the hydroelectric plant." Work on the $1.2 million plant will start in mid-March. [HiPakistan]
| PRINCE AGA KHAN DUE ON DECEMBER 22003, November 29: ISLAMABAD: The spiritual leader of Ismaili community, Prince Karim Aga Khan would be visiting Pakistan on December 2. [PakTribune]
| LE BADAKHCHAN A FLEUR DE CHANT2003, November 27: Comme la plupart des natifs du Badakhchan, Djonbaz est ismaélien, branche chiite de l'islam dont l'imam est l'Aga Khan. Une religion sans voile ni mosquée. Chaque maison pamiri à l'architecture de bois immuable (cinq piliers voués à Ali, Hassan, Hussein, Mohamed et Fatima) est aussi un temple domestique…. [Liberation]
| AGA KHAN TO INVEST $18m IN NILE HOTEL2003, November 24: KAMPALA: Serena Hotels a company owned by Aga Khan is investing US$19m in rebuilding of Nile Hotel International. The Privatisation Unit (PU) on Friday opened the financial bid from Serena Hotels."The management is providing a commitment fee of $1.2m and will be paying four percent of the rental income every year which ranges between $ 238,000 and $554,000," the PU director, Michael Opagi, said during the function held at Communications House. [New Vision]
| WATER PROJECT IN KETIBANDAR2003, November 23: THATTA: Senator Nisar Memon inaugurated drinking water project at Ketibundar on Saturday. The project has been completed by Aga Khan Planning and Building Services (AKPBS) in collaboration with the people of Ketibundar. It will supply drinking water to residents of the coastal town. Speaking on the occasion Nisar Memon lauded the role of the Aga Khan Foundation for its services to the masses all over the country and especially the rural and remote areas. He also praised the local population for their efforts and collaboration for completing the civic facility, and extended his support for the uplift of the coastal areas. [The News]
| A SYMBOL OF HOPE IN A WAR-TORN NATION2003, November 22: Babur was the first Moghul emperor and he built his first paradise garden in Kabul in the early 16th century. During the early 1990s it was on the frontline of the battle for control of the Afghan capital... "The whole area was heavily mined. Many of the young boys who climbed over the old walls to collect the wood were killed," says architect Jolyon Leslie of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which is leading the £2.4 million restoration project. [Telegraph]
| A NEW LEARNING EXPERIENCE2003, November 20: While the commercial new Silk Road does not materialize, the new Silk Road of education is fast becoming a viable proposition, thanks to the University of Central Asia (UCA), which bills itself as "the first private institution of higher education to be internationally chartered". The idea springs from the Aga Khan, the top Ismaili authority and his Aga Khan Development Network, based in Geneva, which promotes "the social conscience of Islam through institutional action". [Asia Times]
| AGA KHAN DUE NEXT MONTH2003, November 18: Prince Karim Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismailis, will undertake a visit of Pakistan in the first week of December, Ismaili Council sources said on Monday. Prince Karim is likely to meet the President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. The prince will also attend the convocation of the Aga Khan University in Karachi and award degrees to the medical graduates. -APP [Dawn]
| AFGHAN PRIVATE BANK TO FINANCE SMALL BUSINESSES2003, November 18: KABUL, Nov. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The First Micro Finance Bank of Afghanistan, one of the first commercial banks in the post-conflict country, has decided to help would-be entrepreneurs startsmall business, a bank official announced on Tuesday. "The loans we will provide to individuals or small groups rangefrom 100 to 5,000 US dollars," said bank representative Olivier Massarat. [China View]
| IPS INCREASES INVESTMENT BY SH2.5 BILLION2003, November 18: Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) has announced a capital increase of Sh2.5 billion in its East African investments. "AKFED's decision to lead such a substantial new capital investment in Eastern Africa is an indication of its commitment to increase economic opportunity, even in difficult times, and to help address the needs of sectors currently considered a national and regional priority, such as infrastructure, while continuing to promote corporate social responsibility," said Prince Amyn Aga Khan, the chairman of the executive committee of AKFED. [Daily Nation - 18 Nov.] [East Africa] [AKDN] [Daily nation 19 Nov.] [New Vision 21 Nov.]
| AGA KHAN ONLY BIDDER FOR NIL HOTEL2003, November 17:A new attempt to privatise Nile Hotel International (NHI) has reached its final stages with the Aga Khan set to win the deal after his Serena Tourism Promotions Services Limited was by Friday evening the only bidder. The Privatisation Unit's Michael Opagi received only one out of the expected five proposals for the management of the hotel. He said the financial bid opening would be conducted this Friday. Five companies pre-qualified which included Tata (Uganda) Limited who had teamed up with the Indian Hotel Company limited, Mosa Court Apartments, in partnership with Southern Sun Group of South Africa and Legacy Group Holdings Limited. Others were Kersaf Investment Limited and the Serena Tourism Promotion Services Limited, which is owned by the Aga Khan Group. [New Vision]
| AKU UNRAVELS GENETIC FACTOR BEHIND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE2003, November 17:KARACHI: Genetic researchers of the Aga Khan University (AKU) have pinpointed a gene involved in the modulation of high blood pressure. The new finding will allow prediction with regard to an individual’s better response to a particular treatment in Pakistan, where essentially, hypertension of unknown causes is a major health problem. "The finding may also contribute to form the basis of the development of genetic tests aimed at assessing an individual’s genetic susceptibility to essential hypertension," an AKU spokesperson announced on Sunday. [The News] [Dawn] [Daily Times]
| DALAKHANI TOPS CARTIER AWARDS2003, November 13:The Aga Khan's brilliant three-year-old colt, Dalakhani, was named the Cartier Horse of The Year at the annual end-of-season Cartier Awards dinner held in London last night. His trophies, for Horse of The Year and Three-Year-Old Colt, were picked up by his trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre and Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who is taking an increasingly-prominent role in her father's breeding empire. [Racing Daily Form] [Telegraph] [BloodHorse] [IC]
| TAJIK SECULAR LAW PREVAILS IN MOUNTAINOUS EAST2003, November 12: Forum 18 News Service has found during a visit to Tajikistan's remote and mountainous eastern region that the parts which were governed by compulsory Shariah law during the mid-1990's civil war have now returned to secular Tajik law... Forum 18 has also found that in the distinctly Ismaili part of the region there are no Ismaili prayer houses. However, local people do not perceive a need for prayer houses as they can pray at home. [F18]
| USDA SUPPORTS AKF PROJECTS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN2003, November 11: In her meeting with President Hamid Karzai, Secretary Veneman talked about USDA's many efforts and programs, especially school feeding for Afghan children. USDA is now in its second year of supporting an Aga Khan Foundation project in the north of Afghanistan. A donation of $9 million in U.S. powdered milk is being used in the region, in part, to provide milk to more than 20,000 children. [AgWeb] [PR]
| UNDERSTANDING ISLAMIC CULTURE2003, November 5:..The Islamic Studies Project was born in discussions between the Aga Khan and Governor Rick Perry a year ago, when the Aga Khan was in Houston for the dedication of a new Ismaili center. Both he and Perry agreed on the need for Texans to have a greater understanding of Islam. Subsequently, UT Austin President Larry Faulkner was asked to join the discussions. [Texas]
| AFGHANISTAN: ICRC HANDS OVER HOSPITAL WING TO AKDN2003, November 4:On 1 November, after two years of support, the ICRC handed over the surgical wing of Bamyan Hospital to the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of development agencies working in health, education, culture and rural economic development, primarily in Asia and Africa. [Red Cross] [Liberation]
| MUSIQUE SAVANTE ET BARDES NOMADES, LES TRADITIONS DE L'ASIE CENTRALE2003, November 3: [French] Méconnue en Occident, la musique savante dite shash maqam (littéralement "six modes") est restée vivante en Asie centrale. Faite de longues suites de pièces instrumentales et vocales, cette tradition est répandue chez les Ouzbeks, les Tadjiks du Nord et les Ouïgours du Turkestan chinois. Sa préservation, face à la concurrence des musiques occidentales et locales, est due notamment à un immense travail de collectage et à la ténacité de musiciens qui ont compris l'importance de la transmission de ce savoir musical et poétique. [Le Monde] [Altérités 4 Nov.] [AKDN Press release] [Via Kaboul Web Site]
| LOWERING THE VEIL2003, November: The Aga Khan Award for Architecture plays a critical role in helping Muslim countries connect to the West. "The Aga Khan Award often goes to spaces with humanitarian connotations," says Diba, a member of the 2001 jury. "These are spaces of freedom, dialogue, gathering. They are almost always antidogmatic, and very often antigovernment. In many ways Bagh-e Ferdowsi is like Tehran with its twelve million people: simply too big for the government to control." [Metropolis]
| KYRGYZ PM AND PRINCE AGA KHAN DISCUSSED DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN ISSYK-KUL2003, October 30: Bishkek (KABAR). Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Nikolai Tanaev has negotiated with His Highness Prince Aga Khan on October 27, 2003 in French town of Gouvieux. The subject of the negotiations was sustainable development of tourism in Issyk-Kul Oblast. The negotiations held in the frame of workshop organized by AKFED with a purpose to exchange experience in development of tourism. The workshop attended by international experts and professionals as well as specialists of AKFED, responsible for tourist’s activities in five states of Africa and Asia. [Kabar] [Kabar 4 Nov. 2003]
| TOURISM AT LAKE ISSYKKUL2003, October 28: Bishkek (KABAR). Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Nikolai Tanaev takes part in the work of a workshop on development of tourist’s capabilities of Issykkul Lake that organized by Aga Khan Foundation and holds in Porto Sorvo, Italy. Issues of sustainable tourism development in the zone of Issykkyl in the light of comparing with development projects of tourist’s industry in Costa Smeraldo are discussing at the workshop, informs the governmental press service of Kyrgyzstan. [Kabar]
| SECRETARY-GENERAL CELEBRATES LIFE OF PRINCE SADRUDDIN AGA KHAN2003, October 28: Secretary-General Kofi Annan tonight paid tribute to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan at a memorial ceremony in New York for the prominent international civil servant. Prince Sadruddin served the United Nations with distinction, most notably as the youngest and longest-serving UN High Commissioner for Refugees (1965-1977), and later as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Annan told the memorial service. [UN] [ONU - French] [UN - Press Release]
| AGA KHAN TRUST SERVING HUMANITY WORLDWIDE2003, October 24: DUBAI - By encouraging and supporting revitalisation of Islam's heritage across many cultures in which it is expressed, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has been able to help generate new resources, talent and energy that is being recognised and has an impact far beyond the Islamic world, said Dr Suha Ozkan, Secretary-General of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. [Khaleej Times]
| NEW AGA KHAN CENTER IN DUBAI PLANNED2003, October 24: The Aga Khan Foundation plans to open an Ismaili Centre in Dubai as part of its efforts to improve the understanding of Islam's cultural heritage worldwide. The centre will also be used to promote cultural activities, childhood learning and to provide services to the Ismaili community in the Gulf. [Gulf News]
| AGA KHAN HOSPITAL IMPROVES PATIENT FLOW2003, October 23: The Aga Khan hospital in Dar es Salaam has redesigned its outpatient services to improve patient flow, improve quality and reduce waiting time according to a press release. The hospital, the release elaborated, has been using techniques developed in the U.S to improve the quality of healthcare services whereby each stage of treatment is examined. [Express]
| SERENA SEEKS TO ACQUIRE NILE HOTEL2003, October 23: The Serena Group runs seven hotels and lodges in Kenya, where it is also listed at the Nairobi Stock Exchange, and another six in Tanzania. Two years ago, it acquired the Polana Hotel in Maputo, Mozambique, and is currently constructing the Kabul Serena Hotel in Afghanistan. [Nation]
| EU GRANTS RS. 1.3 BILLION TO AKES2003, October 23: The European Union has awarded Euro 20 million (about Rs. 1.3 billion) grant to Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan (AKES,P) for implementing the second phase of Northern Pakistan Education Programme (NPEP) over the next five years. [PNS]
| ASIE CENTRALE: LA SPENDEUR RETOUVEE2003, October 23: L'Académie de musique, par exemple, financée par le fonds Aga-Khan pour la culture. Une modeste bâtisse avec un patio à claire-voie où l'acoustique est idéale pour ces instruments aux si délicats murmures : des luths, rebâbs, sators ou dotars, des tambourins, des violes et des voix de cristal. L'arbitre des élégances du lieu s'appelle Abdovalli Abdorasirov. C'est un musicien accompli et un professeur tout dévoué à une cause presque sacrée : faire revivre, dans toute sa rigueur et sa splendeur originelle, l'art du shash maqâm. [Le Figaro]
| AGA KHAN URGES CORRECT USE OF KORAN TEACHINGS2003, October 23: LONDON - The Aga Khan at the weekend spoke about freedom of interpretation as a "generosity which the Holy Koran confers upon all believers". He also spoke of what was needed to assure "the growth of future generations of our intelligentsia, so that we strengthen our own capacity to determine our destiny". In a keynote address at an international meeting entitled "Word of God, Art of Man: The Koran and its Creative Expressions," the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the the Shia Ismaili Muslims, said: "The revelation granted to the Holy Prophet Muhammad opened new horizons and released new energies of mind and spirit." [Dawn] [Daily Nation]
| NORTHERN AREAS NOW ON DEVELOPMENT MAP2003, October 22: The mountainous Northern Areas of Pakistan bordering China and Indian administered Kashmir, finally have a chance of emerging from poverty and backwardness, thanks to increasing attention from international donors [One World]
| 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IIS2003, October 19: London - UK: IIS celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Alumni and major donors were invited in London for Graduation and other events in which Mowlana Hazar Imam participated. As part of the events, 250 scholars, students and artists, attended the Colloqium on the Qur'an and the Arts. The Graduation was held at Le Meridien Grosvenor House Hotel and the Colloquim at The Ismaili Centre, London. [Speech at Graduation] [Speech at the Colloquim] [More on the Colloquim] [Press Release] [Valedictory Address] [Testimony1] [Testimony2]
| FUR LOVE TO FUR SHAME2003, October 17: Fur Love to Fur Shame: Change of Heart for a Princess - FWD spoke to Princess Catherine about her involvement in animal cruelty prevention. A former fur wearer herself, she was converted by a mixture of viewing an anti-fur video produced by David Bailey (news) and her late husband Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan questioning her moral ethics. [Fashion Wire Daily]
| L'AGA KHAN PRET A INVESTIR EN AFRIQUE2003, October 17: Son Altesse l'Aga Khan, chef spirituel des musulmans ismailis chiites, a clôturé sa visite officielle au Mali le 13 octobre dernier avec la signature d'un accord au terme duquel le Réseau Aga Khan de développement (RAKD) s'attachera à lancer de nouvelles initiatives dans ce pays et en Afrique de l'Ouest. [Amadoo.com] [Fraternite Matin]
| AGA KHAN RAISING LIVING STANDARDS IN NORTHEN AREAS2003, October 16: ISLAMABAD: Nestled amid the towering Himalaya, Hindukush and Karakoram ranges, communities in Pakistan’s Northern Areas have undergone a silent socio-economic upheaval in the past 20 years. With $100 million, a development network headed by Prince Aga Khan overhauled the region from a network of sleepy, marginalized communities in 1982 to a vibrant region boasting schools, healthcare, hydro-electric power schemes and even a micro-finance bank. The Northern Areas is home to 1.2 million people spread across 1,123 villages. [Daily Times]
| CANADIAN MINISTER VISITS AKU2003, October 16:Thanking senior AKU leadership who were present on the occasion, Minister Allan Rock acknowledged the University as a centre of excellence, saying, "We are proud to partner with you towards the achievement of the Aga Khan’s vision: social justice and equality of access to education, health care and advancement." The Minister also expressed his confidence that relations between the two countries would continue to grow deeper and stronger. [The News]
| JAPAN EXTENDS ASSISTANCE FOR PROJECT2003, October 16: ISLAMABAD: Japan has extended US $ 62,892 (approx. 3.6 million Rupees) under its Grassroots Assistance (GRA) Programme to Aga Khan Foundation in order to assist "The Project for Integrated Up-gradation and Rehabilitation of Banpy, Khaplu, Northern Areas". [Pak Tribune]
| SEJOUR AU MALI DU PRINCE AGA KHAN: UN FORT INTERET POUR LA CULTURE2003, October 13: L'illustre visiteur a assisté à l'inauguration du Musée national rénové aux côtés du président de la République, Amadou Toumani Touré, visité la mosqué Djingareiber et le centre Ahmed Baba de Tombouctou, la mosquée et le centre culturel de Djenné. [L'Essor 13 Oct.] [Daily Nation 13 Oct.] [AKDN photos] [Press release] [L'Essor 1 14 Oct.] [L'Essor 2 14 Oct.] [Daily Nation 14 Oct.]
| AGA KHAN VISTS MALI2003, October 12: H.H. The Aga Khan visited Mali. The highlight of the trip was His visit to the Djingarey Ber Mosque in Timbuktu and the Ahmed Baba Centre known for its collection of 20,000 Arabic manuscripts. H.H. made some remarks in French to the television crew during this visit. Here is the [transcription and its English translation.]
| SADRUDDIN AGA KHAN, LE PRINCE ECOLOGISTE2003, October 12: Né en 1933 à Paris, Sadruddin Aga Khan est le fils cadet de Mohammed Shah Aga Khan III, chef spirituel des musulmans ismaéliens. Pendant la guerre, il se réfugie en Suisse, un pays auquel il restera très attaché. [24 Heures]
| FIRST MICROFINANCE BANK GETS HIGHEST RATING2003, October 11: The First Micro Finance Bank Limited (FMFBL), one of the first institutions of its kind to receive a license from the Afghan government, has recently been awarded highest rating by the JCR-VIS, a credit rating agency [The News]
| VISITE DU PRINCE AGA KHAN AU MALI2003, October 10: Le réseau Aga Khan veut étendre ses activités dans notre pays. "Je suis très flatté et satisfait de visiter le Mali. Vous savez, mon réseau a été longtemps présent en Afrique orientale et dans certains Etats de l'Afrique de l'ouest comme le Sénégal, la Côte d'Ivoire, le Burkina Faso et depuis quelques années au Mali." [L'Essor 10 Oct.] [L'Essor 9 Oct.] [Afribone 10 Oct.] [Reflet 10 Oct.]
| H.H. THE AGA KHAN IN MALI2003, October 10: Timbuktu, Mali - Aga Khan Urges "Rediscovery" of Timbuktu and Djenne - In Mali on an official visit at the invitation of its Government, the Aga Khan has, over the past two days, held extensive discussions with President Amadou Toumani Toure and members of his Government in Bamako on the scope for expanding the Aga Khan Development Network's presence in the country. During his visit, the Aga Khan is also expected to visit the fabled city of Djenne, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. [AKDN] [The News 18 Oc. 2003]
| RESOLUTION2003, October 8: The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. on the occasion of its Partnership Walk in Houston on October 19, 2003 and the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. is a nondenominational organization that helps people in developing countries find solutions to the problems of poor health, inadequate education, and low income without regard to religious, racial, or ethnic background. [More]
| ENTREPRENEUR TO THE DEVELOPING WORLD2003, October 8: Aga khan expands his investments in middle east. One of world’s wealthiest men, leader of Ismaili Muslims focuses on local projects to enhance sustainable development. Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, is a seasoned philanthropist, but he is doing more than giving his millions away in developing countries. the Aga Khan is changing the face of global philanthropy by establishing innovative ventures and providing microfinance for small-scale enterprises through economic development institutions. [Daily Star]
| AKU CHIEF MEETS TATA2003, October 8: KARACHI: The Aga Khan University is establishing a faculty of arts and sciences on a new 550-acre campus in the outskirts of Karachi. This was stated by Dr Shams Kassim Lakha, President Aga Khan University, during a meeting with Riaz Ahmed Tata, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). [The News] [AKU]
| AGA SELLS ALAMSHAR2003, October 7: Alamshar has been sold to the Japan Racing Association by The Aga Khan and will not run in the Canadian International at Woodbine. Winner of the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Alamshar will have one more race before heading to Japan for stud duties: the 1 1/4-mile Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 18. [Thoroughbred Times] [Bloodhorse.com 1 Oct. 2003] [Telegraph 7 Oct. 2003] [DRF 7 Oct. 2003] [Photo 18 Oct. 2003]
| DALAKHANI TAKES ARC GLORY2003, October 5: Dalakhani justified his status as pre-race favourite as he held off a brave challenge from Mubtaker to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. The French Derby winner - ridden by Christophe Soumillon - had to come in from stall 14, wide out on the right, but ran a well-paced race to take the lead with 300m remaining. The three-year-old is owned by the Aga Khan and trained in France by Alain de Royer-Dupre. Click on Movie only if you have high speed internet [size is huge 7 Meg]. [BBC] [Sunday Times] [CNN] [IC] [BH w/photo] [RP w/photo] [Guardian] [ATR w/photos] [More photos] [The Age 7 October w/photo] [L'Express] [More photos]
| LUTYENS WILL WALK AROUND CITY2003, October 4: The tour, according to sources, has been packed with meetings with dignitaries, visits to heritage and World Heritage Sites in Delhi and, of course, buildings designed by Sir Edwin. On the second day, the delegation will visit Humayun’s Tomb complex and attend a seminar-cum-workshop on the Preservation of Lutyens Delhi, organised by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage INTACH). His excellency Aga Khan will address the group at Humayun’s Tomb. [Accuracy of the news stays with Express India, not with the Heritage Society which is just making available what is printed. [Express India]
| CRACK & CRACK A L'ARC2003, October 4: HIPPISME. Le meilleur des jockeys, Soumillon, sur le meilleur des chevaux, Dalakhani, dimanche à Longchamp - D'une élégance remarquable, Dalakhani est un animal serein, qui ne roule pas les mécaniques malgré un palmarès imposant. Dimanche, à l'heure du prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, les regards se porteront sur un couple juvénile et princier, le poulain de l'écurie de Son Altesse Karim Aga Khan, Dalakhani, 3 ans, grandissime favori, associé à Christophe Soumillon, 22 ans, enfant terrible du turf de haut niveau. Dalakhani will run for the Prix de L'Arc on October 5th. [Dalakhani - Trevor JonesPhoto] [Liberation] [The Age w/photo]
| UK-BASED TRUST AWARDS $0.5m GRANT TO AKU2003, October 4: KARACHI: The UK-based Welcome Trust Foundation has awarded $500,000 research grant to Aga Khan University (AKU) for a study on high blood pressure, designed by Dr Tazeen Jafar, an assistant professor, and her colleagues at university’s Department of Medicine. The Trust is widely known for its high profile in the best academic and research circles throughout the world, and for funding only scientifically robust and internationally competitive research projects. "It is indeed a great source of pride for the AKU to be recognised as a genuine research university on the international stage," said Dr Jafar. [The News]
| REWIND TO GHANDHIAN ERA2003, October 2: ‘‘Gandhiji had made three predictions for The Aga Khan Palace in his writings. One, that this would become a place of pilgrimage. Today about 300 visitors including foreigners visit daily. Secondly he had said that the Aga Khan will donate this palace to the nation. " [India Express]
| UN AND AGA KHAN IN DEAL OVER AIDS2003, October 2: UN employees who have Aids will benefit from a comprehensive medical and health care programme at the Aga Khan Hospital. In a deal between Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi Klaus Topfer and Mr Stephen Batts, the Aga Khan Health Service in East Africa chief executive, the employees will be advised on the use of anti-retroviral drugs and nutrition. They and their families will also will benefit from counselling services. [Daily News]
| AGA KHAN MEETS PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI2003, October 1: H.H. The Aga Khan arrived in Nairobi Sunday evening for a private visit. The aircraft landed at around 6.- p.m. About 200 Jamati members had gathered at the Nairobi airport to welcome the Imam. According to a caption in Daily Nation, "President Mwai Kibaki and the Aga Khan at State House, Nairobi, yesterday where they held talks. The Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, arrived on Sunday." [The Nation - October 1st, 2003]. [Photo by PPS] [Photo of Mombasa School]
| DRUG-PLAGUED AFGHAN ECONOMY2003, September 24: Kabul - Reuters. Afghanistan has come a long way since the overthrow of the Taliban nearly two years ago but it remains far from achieving the stability needed to attract serious investment and wean itself off foreign aid. AKFED's Kabul representative Aly Mawji said most potential investors remained extremely wary, but Prince Karim Aga Khan, the hugely wealthy spiritual head of the world's 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims, had wanted to lead by example. [Reuters]
| CANADA AND THE AKDN FORGING NEW LEADERSHIP2003, September 22: Addressing a group of Canadian parliamentarians, government representatives, academics and representatives of the business and diplomatic community, Mr. Kassim-Lakha said that Canada's support for Aga Khan University, a member of the Aga Khan Development Network, is "beginning to have a strategic impact in several countries of Asia and Africa" by fostering the professional expertise, leadership skills and values necessary to drive forward national - and even global - strategies in the critical social sectors of education and health care. [CNW]
| CHINA: ISMAILIS CUT OFF FROM MAINSTREAM2003, September 18: CHINA: Xinjiang's Ismailis cut off from international Ismaili community. The tens of thousands of Ismaili Muslims of the Tajik Autonomous District in China's north western Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region are isolated from their fellow-Ismailis across the border in Tajikistan and elsewhere in the world, Forum 18 News Service found on a visit to Xinjiang between 8 and 10 September. There is only one Ismaili mosque functioning in the Tajik Autonomous District, in the district capital Tashkurgan, whose imam was appointed by the Chinese secular authorities. [Forum 18]
| Die Begum und die gute Tat Inaara Aga Khan lädt zur Gala zu Gunsten missbrauchter Kinder2003, September 20: Ihre elfjährige Tochter Theresa Prinzessin zu Leiningen hat gerade ihr Interesse am Internet entdeckt. "Für mich bedeutet das, ich muss ihr nun beibringen, wie man surft ohne dabei in die gefährlichen Chat-Rooms abzudriften, sagt ihre Mutter, die Begum Inaara Aga Khan, die in erster Ehe mit Karl Emich Fürst zu Leiningen verheiratet war, bevor Karim Aga Khan, das geistliche Oberhaupt der Ismaeliten, sie 1998 vor den Traualtar führte. "Bei dieser besonderen Aufgabe unterstützt mich auch die Organisation Innocence in Danger." [German article] [Berline Online] [Berlin 2] [Berline 3]
| FOREIGN BANK IN AFGHANISTAN2003, September 17: Standard Chartered, the UK-based bank, and the First MicroFinance Bank of Afghanistan, majority-owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (Akfed), will tomorrow receive licences to set up what will be the first commercial banking operations for a quarter of a century, Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, the central bank's governor, said in an interview. [Financial Times] [AKDN] [East African Standard] [The Dawn] [Gulf News]
| PRINZESSIN INAARA - INTERVIEW2003, September 16: Berlin - Sie lebt unser aller Traum von 1001 Nacht. Als die promovierte Juristin, geschiedene Gabriele Prinzessin zu Leinigen, Tochter der Unternehmerin und Wienerwald-Saniererin Renate Thyssen-Henne vor fünf Jahren den Aga Khan heiratete, staunte die Welt und Deutschlands Mütter ärgerten sich. Doch es sind nicht etwa die glanzvollen High-Society-Auftritte mit seiner schönen Begum Inaara, wie sie jetzt heißt, die das Leben des Harvard-Absolventen bestimmen. Karim Aga Khan, bescheiden und fast schüchtern auf dem gesellschaftlichen Parkett, führt die weltweit verstreut lebenden rund 20 Millionen Ismaeliten, eine muslimische Glaubensgemeinschaft. [English translation soon] [Bild]
| FIRST MICRO FINANCE BANK RATED A+2003, September 16: The ratings incorporate the management’s expertise and the board’s commitment to the mandate of the bank. It also features the operational and credit-monitoring experience that FMBL draws from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, which is managing several institutions and micro-finance programmes in South Asia, Central Asia and Africa as well as from the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in Pakistan, allowing the bank to develop effective appraisal systems to mitigate the risks associated with micro finance. Strong capital base allows the bank to operate at a national level. JCR-VIS derives further comfort from the high level of liquidity reserves held currently. [The News]
| MPs EXEMPTS AGA KHAN FROM VAT2003, September 16: PARLIAMENT- Members of Parliament have passed a bill exempting Aga Khan Development Agencies from paying Value Added Tax (Vat). Agencies that are exempt are; the Aga Khan University, health projects and the education sector. [Monitor]
| NOW FOR THE ARC2003, September 15: DALAKHANI boosted his claims for the Prix de l'Arc deTriompheby returning to winning form in the Prix Niel Casino Barriere d'Enghien at Longchamp yesterday. The Aga Khan's colt, trained by Alain de RoyerDupre and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, took the Group Two race over a mile and half from Frankie Dettori's mount Doyen with Vodafone Derby winner Kris Kin only third. [Daily Record]
| AGA KHAN HOSPITAL OPENS NEW ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY CENTRE2003, September 11: As part of a major modernisation programme, the Aga Khan Hospital - Nairobi has opened an improved Accident and Emergency Centre which is separate from the walk-in Family Centre. Patients suffering from severe injuries caused by accidents, or acute chest pains, heart attacks, and seizures will be attended to within seconds at the Centre after ringing the bell at the entrance. [Standard]
| INVESTMENT, NOT AID!2003, September 11: The Aga Khan was visiting Nairobi scarcely two months after the devastation of the August 1, 1982, coup attempt. Investor confidence was at an all-time low following the unprecedented looting, destruction of property and loss of life. Yet, it had been clear Kenya was rapidly becoming unattractive to investors even before the abortive coup. Four years later, during the much-touted "Enabling Environment Conference", the Aga Khan was even more prophetic when he warned of an imminent brain drain. [The Nation]
| AFGHANISTAN SEEKS TELECOM INVESTORS2003, September 5: Afghanistan seeks telecom investors, namely TDCA which is owned by an international consortium in which the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development holds 51 per cent. [News Interactive]
| KYRGYZ PRESIDENT MET AGA KHAN2003, September 3: - Bishkek - The president of Kyrgyz Republic Askar Akaev has warmly greeted the honored guest, prince Karim Aga Khan IV, and has assured that Kyrgyzstan attaches rather great value to close cooperation with the Aga Khan Organization on development. [Kabar]
| TAJIKS HAVE MORE FAITH IN AGA KHAN THAN UN WATER FORUM2003, September 2: - Many in this war-weary Central Asian country drew greater comfort from the visit of Ismaili Muslim leader the Aga Khan. Saying that his Aga Khan Development Network had saved their lives by relief work and thus they trust him to make fresh water possible. [Terra Daily] Click here for article in [French]
| AGA KHAN ANNOUNCES FIRST ISMAILI CENTRE IN CENTRAL ASIA2003, August 30 - His Highness the Aga Khan today launched a landmark cultural centre in Dushanbe, Tajikistan marking a milestone in the 1300 year history of the Ismaili Muslim community in Central Asia. [H.H Aga Khan's Speech] [AKDN] [News International] [The Dawn] [Complete Gallery]
| AKF TO STRENGTHEN CIVIL SOCIETY ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT2003, August 30 - The Aga Khan Foundation and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) have joined forces under the Pakistan-Canada Social Institutions Development Programme (SIDP) to support initiatives and efforts for strengthening the role of civil society in country's development. [PakNews]
| AGA KHAN AT THE INTERNATIONAL FRESH WATER FORUM2003, August 29 - Dushanbe, Tajikistan [Heritage News] - 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. [H.H. the Aga Khan's Speech] [Heritage News] [Asia Plus] [Asia Plus 2] [ENEWS]
| IPDC OKAYS TK 1184M INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT2003, August 29 - Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) attended the 79th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Industrial Promotion and Development Company of Bangladesh Limited (IPDC) was held in the city recently. [NFB News From Bangladesh]
| DIE BEGUM KOMMT ALS SCHIRMHERRIN ZUR GALA GEGEN KINDESMISSBRAUCH2003, August 28 - Das Komitee: hochkarätig. Dresscode: Smoking. Am 19. September bittet das "Innocence in Danger-Komitee" zu einem Gala-Dinner unter Schirmherrschaft und in Anwesenheit der Begum Inaara Aga Khan in den Schlüterhof des Deutschen Historischen Museums. The following Articles are in German [Stadtmenschen] [Berlin]
| AGA KHAN SIGNS SH60M CONTRACT2003, August 28 - Two new floors will be added to the Aga Khan Hospital Doctors Plaza in Nairobi to create space for an additional 42 consulting rooms for doctors. The agreement for the Sh60 million project was signed by the former chairman of the Aga Khan Health Services and Kirit Patel of Laxmanbhai Construction Limited. [East African Standard]
| UNIVERSITY'S POSTGRADUATE COURSES START IN NOVEMBER2003, August 27 - The Aga Khan University is the first private medical school in East Africa. The Aga Khan University will offer postgraduate courses in internal medicine, general surgery and radiology from November 2003. [Daily Nation News]
| AKF(P) HOLDS WORKSHOP ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP2003, August 27 - The Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKFP)] is hosting a two-day workshop to be held on August 27-28, entitled "Understanding Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Development in Pakistan." [PakNews]
| SOUMILLON LIKELY TO PARTNER ALAMSHAR IN CHAMPION STAKES2003, August 26 - Soumillon, retained by the Aga Khan in France, will take over in the plate on Alamshar from John Murtagh. [RTE Interactive SPORTS]
| UVic-BASED PROJECT HELPS GRANDPARENTS IN AFRICA2003, August 25 - The Internet education program helps aid workers understand how African families work. This project is partially funded by a variety of groups including UNICEF, UNESCO, the Aga Khan Foundation and the World Bank. [Vancouver Sun]
| EMINENT ECONOMIST A M KHUSRO PASSES AWAY2003, August 25 - A M Khusro a distinguished academic, scholar and a towering personality; former Finance Commission chairman, chairman of the Aga Khan Foundation, president of the Federation of Indo-German Societies and chairman of the Institute of Economic Growth passed away in New Delhi on Sunday night. [Rediff]
| TEACHERS TOUR SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD2003, August 25 - A trip through East and North Africa and India took 15 Texas educators just about everywhere on a month-long journey to study Islamic history and culture. The trip was sponsored by the Aga Khan Foundation and coordinated by the University of Texas at Austin. [The Daily News]
| ISMAILI MUSLIMS PLAN CENTER2003, August 25 - Ismaili Muslims are planning to build a community center on 6 acres off Five Forks Trickum Road near Snellville. It will offer youth and educational programs such as SAT preparatory classes, healthy living sessions, economics classes and sporting activities. [The Atlanta Journal]
| FOREIGN AGENCIES ALLOCATE 5m-DOLLAR GRANT TO IMPROVE TAJIK EDUCATION SECTOR2003, August 22 - The Dushanbe office of the USAID will realize three projects to improve the educational sphere in Tajikistan, in cooperation with the Aga Khan Fund, Open Society Institute-Assistance Fund [of the Soros Foundation], Save the Children (USA), Save the Children (United Kingdom) and the Zdrav/Plus. [BBC]
| AGA KHAN SCHOOL HOLDS WORKSHOP ON ICT2003, August 22 - The Professional Development Centre (PDC) in collaboration with Aga Khan Education Service in Kenya has launched an in service training programme aimed at upgrading teachers' pedagogical skills and content knowledge of mathematics and sciences. [East African Standard]
| AGA KHAN SCHOOL HOLDS WORKSHOP ON ICT2003, August 21 - The Aga Khan School, Dhaka (AKS,D) has just concluded a week-long workshop for incorporating technology into its curriculum. Participants from East Africa, Central Asia, India and Pakistan joined the Senior Section teachers of the AKS,D. [NFB]
| AKU SEMINAR ON HIGHER EDUCATION2003, August 18 - AKU seminar on higher education addresses the fact that the rapid spread of English language as a means for global communication was becoming a necessity and the government fully realised the challenge. [Karachi News]
| OUTSIDERS AIM TO GET THEIR TEETH INTO AFGHAN BANKING2003, August 15 - Standard Chartered, the UK-based bank, hopes to open the country's first ATM machine by late September, pending approval of its application to set up shop there. In an effort to help kick-start the small-business sector, Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) has applied for a licence to open First MicroFinance Bank of Afghanistan, which will make loans of up to about $5,000 to small enterprises. [Financial Times]
| EDUCATION AND CULTURE: A PRINCE DREAMS ABOUT AFGHANISTAN2003, August 15 - The Aga Khan promotes a singular culture and education program in the central asiatic nations along the old silk road - he fights against the inheritance of the Taliban, against poverty, drugs and corruption, writes Henrike Thomsen...Striving for knowledge is the obligation of all Muslims [Article in German]
| AKU, USAID SIGN $4.5m AGREEMENT TO SET UP PRIVATE EXAMINATION BOARD2003, August 14 - KARACHI - Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, the President of AKU, signed an agreement on behalf of The Aga Khan University (AKU) for a grant of $4.5 million to AKU for establishing the country's first private examination board. [Karachi News] [PakNews]
| HEALTH CENTRE OPENED FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES2003, August 13 - PESHAWAR: The Aga Khan Family Health Centre was inaugurated here on Tuesday to provide healthcare services to the local people as well as Afghan refugees. Vice-Chairman Ali Ratancy, The Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan, said the project would go a long way in improving the health delivery system in the city for the poor. [The Dawn]
| DCB PLANS RS 200-CR CAPITAL HIKE2003, August 13 - DCB plans Rs 200-cr capital hike -"The bank has no immediate plan for an initial public offering (IPO). "We have to wait 2-3 years before floating an IPO,'' said Mr John Harris, Head Financial Services of Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, which holds 49 per cent equity stake in the bank" [Business Line]
| GOFFS SHAREHOLDERS BENEFIT FROM BONUS2003, August 13 - The shareholders, who include the Aga Khan, will also receive a dividend of 7 1/2 cents per share next month as a result of Goffs’s increasing pretax profits by 182% to $8,494,842 in the year to March 31, Racing Post reports. [The Thorough Times]
| PAKISTAN: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO BE BOOSTED IN THE SOUTH2003, August 12 - ISLAMABAD - A new programme to improve childhood development and education in Pakistan’s poverty stricken provinces of Balochistan and Sindh in the south of the country will be implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKFP) and USAID. The project will have a particular focus on young girls... [IRIN News]
| SIX BID FOR DISPUTED NILE HOTEL2003, August 11 - Uganda is going ahead with plans to privatise the Nile Hotel International Ltd (NHIL) despite a court battle between the government and Tunisia's Tahar Fourati. This is the second time the hotel is being concessioned by the Privatisation Unit. The hotel complex was in October 1994 partly sold to Tahar Fourati. A dispute ensued and Tahar Fourati lodged a case to have their money refunded. [The East African]
| TAJIKISTAN: DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY FOR CENTRAL ASIA TAKING SHAPE2003, August 11 - KHOROUGH: In a unique international initiative, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is creating the University of Central Asia (UCA) with campuses in the three Central Asian countries of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. This will be the first private, internationally chartered university offering subjects related to sustainable development in these impoverished mountain societies. [IRIN News]
| AKFP TO IMPROVE CHILD LEARNING IN SINDH, BALOSHISTAN2003, August 11 - KARACHI, Pakistan (PNS) - Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) in cooperation with USAID, is implementing "Releasing Confidence and Creativity (RCC): An Early Childhood Development Programme". This programme is being implemented in 50 communities of Balochistan and another 50 in Sindh. [PakNews]
| MUSLIM GROUP SETS HEALTH TALKS HERE2003, August 6 - Close to 1,000 Muslim health care professionals from around the country will meet in Atlanta this weekend to discuss medical treatment and training programs in developing countries. The doctors, nurses and researchers are with the Ismaili Health Professional Association, a Houston-based group that runs clinics and organizes missions in Asia and Africa. Ismailis represent about 15 million of the more than 1 billion Muslims worldwide. They are a subset of Shiite Muslims, who are a separate, smaller Muslim community than the majority Sunni Muslims. The Aga Khan's daughter, Princess Zahra, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. [Atlanta Journal] [Symposium 2003]
| SAVING SHANGRI-LA2003, August 4 - The Hunza Valley has one of the most educated populations in Pakistan, and that includes the women. As members of the Ismailis Sect of Islam, under the influence of the Aga Khan, women here have a much freer way of life than in other parts of the Muslim State...Most significantly there has been a concerted effort by the Aga Khan Foundation to preserve the very things that made Hunza so unique. [BBC Radio]
| MINISTRY TO LAUNCH TRAINING COURSES FOR NURSES2003, August 4 - The ministry of overseas Pakistanis will launch two training programmes for nurses so that they could avail job opportunities abroad. Under the programmes, training will be imparted to 300 nurses in Islamabad, while 3,200 nurses will receive training at Aga Khan Hospital Nursing College, Karachi. [Dawn]
| LIVING WELL IS THE BEST REVENGE2003, July 26 - Thousands of Ismaili Muslims were among the Asians expelled from Uganda in 1972 by Idi Amin. As the tyrant lies on his deathbed three decades later, ERIN ANDERSSEN reports, Canada's hugely prosperous Ismaili community doesn't bat an eye. Nasim Rajani's family was at prayer when they lost their every possession in the world. If the neighbours hadn't warned them on their way home from the mosque, it might have been much worse. A servant had slipped out to send a panicked message: You can't come back. There are soldiers here. They are waiting for you. [Globe and Mail]
| DIAMOND SUCCESS FOR ALAMSHAR2003, July 26 - This day the Aga Khan was in Ascot where His horse "Alamshar" won the Diamond Stakes: The race was shown live on the satellite channel "Dubai Sports" and on a local channel here in UK. "I think Alamshar has improved hugely since the Irish Derby" said Alamshar's owner, the Aga Khan. [BBC] [Guardian Sports] [Ascot Races] [Independent Sport] [IHT]
| NEW CELLPHONE FIRM VOWS TO END AFGHAN FRUSTRATIONS2003, July 25 - KABUL (Reuters) - War-battered Afghanistan, where using a cellphone is a frustratingly hit-and-miss affair, will get its second GSM network on Sunday, and the company providing it vows to make failed calls a thing of the past. TDCA Ltd, trading under the name Roshan, meaning "light" in the Dari language, is owned by a consortium grouping the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, Monaco Telecom International (MTI), U.S.-based MCT Corp and French telecoms giant Alcatel. [Reuters] [Reuters 2]
| CORPORATE SECTOR BOOSTS INTERNATIONAL MICROFINANCE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM2003, July 23 - OTTAWA, CNW/ - Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) has established a partnership with Northwater Capital Management Inc. to help finance an expansion of a program that sends young professionals to developing countries to gain experience in the field of microfinance and microenterprise. Over the next three years, the Northwater Foundation will sponsor an increasing number of internships in the Fellowship in International Microfinance and Microenterprise (IMM program). [Canada NewsWires]
| QATAR BANK AND AGA KHAN FUND SEEN AS SERIOUS BIDDERS FOR HBL2003, July 21 - ISLAMABAD - The consortium of Supreme Council/Qatar National Bank and the Aga Khan Fund are considered to be serious contenders in the list of 19 buyers who have conveyed their interest to the Privatisation Commission (PC) in the acquisition of the management stake in Habib Bank Limited. [Business Recorder] [Gulf Times]
| AGA KHAN HOSPITAL AWARDED ISO CERTIFICATION2003, July 14 - The Aga Khan Hospital has been awarded the ISO 9001:2000 certification - During the award ceremony at a Nairobi hotel, Aga khan chief Executive Officer, Ian Cripwell said the institution has invested in state of the art equipment to meet international standards. The hospital was awarded the certification "for conforming to the internationally accepted quality assurance standards for all clinical, diagnostic, administration and support services". [East African StandardI]
| ALITALIA MAY BUY STAKE IN MERIDIANA2003, July 14 - Alitalia's board of directors is to discuss the possibility of acquiring a partial or controlling stake in Meridiana, the Sardinia-based airline owned by the Aga Khan, at a board meeting on Tuesday. The Aga Khan established Meridiana in 1963 with the aim of encouraging tourism on the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia's upmarket coastal area. [AGI] [Financial Times]
| GARNMENT MAKER SET TO CREATE 1,000 NEW JOBS2003, July 9: - One thousand new jobs will be created when Alltex EPZ Limited completes its Sh214 million (US$2.86 million) phase II expansion project this month. Alltex is a joint venture between Industrial Promotion Services (Kenya) Limited (IPS) and Global Readymade Garments Industry LLC of Qatar. IPS is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), which promotes private sector initiatives and entrepreneurship through equity investment. [Daily Nation]
| AGA KHAN, IFC PLAN DAM2003, July 5: - HIS Royal Highness the Aga Khan and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) plan to pay for a new hydro-electric dam in western Uganda. IFC is the private lending arm of the World Bank. Syda Bbumba, the energy minister, said the Government wants people in Bushenyi, Rukungiri and Kanungu districts to become minority shareholders in the project. [New Vision]
| STUDENTS RAISE FUNDS FOR AFGHANI SCHOOL2003, July 5: - Calgary elementary school students are making their mark in an Afghanistan high school by raising funds for desperately needed school supplies. Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS), an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network, announced this week the completion of the totally rehabilitated and refurbished school buildings, integrating a new library, new sports and recreational facilities which were damaged by war. [Calgary Sun]
| LA CÔTE D'IVOIRE HONORE LE PDG DE IPS WEST AFRICA2003, July 3: - Mérite et reconnaissance. Voici les mots qui ont marqué vendredi dernier la cérémonie d’adieu organisée à l’honneur de M. François Chassey, PDG du groupe Industrial promotion services de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (IPS-WA), réseau Aga Khan. [Fraternite Matin]
| FOCUS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE2003, July 2: - Kabul, Afghanistan: Tajwar Sultana School, a girls' high school formerly on a frontline in Kabul, today became the first educational institution in the country with state-of-the-art computing facilities, including multimedia and internet access. [AKDN]
| PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF IN FRANCE2003, July 1: - ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: (PNS) - President General Pervez Musharraf will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues besides exploring avenues to increase economic and trade ties with French leaders during his forthcoming three-day visit. The President will attend a reception hosted by His Highness Karim Aga Khan. The Reception will be attended by leading French Businessmen, Parliamentarians, Members of the diplomatic corps and senior officials. [PNS News] [HiPakistan- July 4th]
| ALAMSHAR WINS IRISH DERBY FOR AGA KHAN2003, June 29 - DUBLIN (Reuters) - Alamshar won the Irish Derby by half-a-length from favorite Dalakhani at The Curragh on Sunday to end the French Derby winner's unbeaten record and deliver a home victory for jockey Johnny Murtagh and trainer John Oxx... Alamshar's victory gave the Aga his fifth Irish Derby, after Shergar, Shahrastani, Kahyasi and Sinndar, enabling him to equal the tally of his grandfather. It was appropriate that Alamshar carried the chocolate and green hoops, the old Aga's colours, with Dalakhani sporting the modern green and red. [The Independant] [Sports Illustrated ] [Sunday Herald ] [Farming Life ]
| CULTURE AS A CATALYST FOR DEVELOPMENT IN SYRIA2003, June 26 - Damascus, Syria, A model of revitalisation, the Souq al Saghir project in Masyaf was inaugurated on June 26th 2003 under the patronage of the Governor of the Hama Province. One of several activities of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Syria, the project uses cultural heritage and the built environment to catalyse social and economic development in Masyaf. [AKDN Press Release]
| CELL PHONE NETWORK IN AFGHANISTAN AND NORTHERN AREAS2003, June 26 - KABUL, Afghanistan -- An international consortium began testing a new cellular network in the Afghan capital on Thursday and will soon launch commercial services that will break a telecommunications monopoly. The government awarded the new wireless network contract in October. The consortium is led by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, which controls 51 percent. Other investors include Monaco Telecom International (35 percent), the U.S.-based MCT Corp. (9 percent) and France's Alcatel (5 percent). [News Day] [BBC ] [HiPakistan] [Cellular News]
| FOUNDATION LAUNCHES COAST PROJECT2003, June 25 - The Rural Coastal Support Programme Kenya (CRCP), a project of the Aga Khan Foundation (AFK), has launched its second phase of its work in the country. The event, held on June 20 and 21, was presided over by Kinango MP Gonzi Rai, Mr Tom Kessinger, General Manager AFK in Geneva, Mr Arif Neky, the CEO for AFK in East Africa among others. [East African Standard
| INDIAN TREASURE RESTORED2003, June 21 - The 30-acre site contains more than 100 graves and was the first Mughal tomb with a "chahar-bagh" or four-part paradise garden on the Indian subcontinent. But when the capital was moved from Delhi to Agra, site of the Taj Mahal, the tomb was neglected and the water dried up. It now gets about 1,000 visitors a day and officials said they are hoping to double or triple that figure now that the gardens have been spruced up. [Washington Times] [Asian Age]
| A GOOD DEAL FOR EVERYONE2003, June 20 - Ottawa - The deal, celebrated with a community picnic on the weekend, is certainly unusual. It involved the NCC handing over eight acres of its land to the City of Ottawa. This includes three acres at the corner of Industrial Avenue and Alta Vista Drive that will become an entrance park to the Alta Vista neighbourhood. The city also gets five acres added to Dale Park nearby. The NCC had wanted to sell the three acres to the Aga Khan Foundation for construction of a cultural centre, at a selling price of $500,000. [The Ottawa Citizen]
| TIME FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION2003, June 20 - LONDON - President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Friday it was not time for crisis management but conflict resolution for a lasting peace in South Asia. He was speaking as guest of honour at 50th annual dinner hosted in his honour by the Pakistan Society at the Great Hall of Lincoln Inn here on Thursday. Prince of Wales Prince Charles, Prince Karim Aga Khan, Princess Sarwat and Principal Secretary of the Queen specially attended the dinner. [Dawn]
| WORKING TOGETHER2003, June 17 - Ismaili Muslims believe education must be used for benefit of us all. There are some 8,000 Ismaili Muslims in our community and upwards of 60,000 across our country and they are surely the type of people you would wish as a next door neighbour. [Calgary Sun]
| KARACHI: EU ENVOY VISITS AKES CENTRES2003, June 13 - Dawn - KARACHI: The European Union's ambassador to Pakistan, Ilkka Uustialo, has laid emphasis on quality education at the Aga Khan centres for education all over the country . Mr Uustialo was visiting Karimabad education centre, which had been declared the best college of the year.The Aga Khan Education Service (AKES) has been awarded a grant of 20 million euros for the implementation of the Northern Pakistan Education Programme, over the next five years, says a press release on Thursday. [Dawn 13 June] [Dawn 17 June]
| AGA KHAN FUNDS TO RESTORE LOSS MAKING ENTERPRISES IN KYRGYSTAN2003, June 12 - BISHKEK. The Kyrgyz government will transfer several loss making enterprises to the Prince Aga Khan Fund for rehabilitation under an agreement signed last year that Kyrgyzstan's lower house of parliament has ratified. First Deputy Finance Minister Emirlan Toromyrzayev told Interfax this would include enterprises in the mining, textile, pharmaceutical and other manufacturing industries that has received loans under government guarantees and are having financial problems. [Times of Central Asia] [Kabar News]
| FOUNTAINS COME ALIVE IN INDIAN 'PARADISE GARDEN'2003, June 12 - It was an attempt to create a glimpse of heaven on earth, but for centuries the paradise garden of Humayun's Tomb -- the inspiration behind India's celebrated Taj Mahal -- lay in neglect in the midst of Delhi. Now conservationists have restored the grounds of the massive bulbous-domed tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun who plunged down a stairway to his death in 1556 rushing to answer the Muslim call to prayer. Long-dormant fountains in the garden have come to life for the first time in some 400 years and water flows through narrow canals representing the four rivers of paradise described in the Koran. [China Daily]
| THE AGA KHAN REORGANISES SHAREHOLDING IN NATION2003, June 12: - The Nation Media Group’s principal shareholder, the Aga Khan, has notified the Kenya Capital Markets Authority of his desire to change the way he holds his shares in the group to ensure its long-term continuity. The Aga Khan, who founded the Group in 1962, now holds 44.73 percent of its shares. Instead of continuing to hold them through his personal account, he will transfer them to a development company of which he is chairman, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), which initiated its activities in eastern Africa in 1962 and has since expanded to 19 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. [Daily Nation] [The Monitor] [East African Standad]
| EU AMBASSADOR VISIT2003, June 11 -ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (PNS) - Last month, the EU approved a grant of Rs. 1.28 billion to support Aga Khan Foundation's Northern Pakistan Education Project (NPEP). This grant clearly indicates the key importance, the European Union gives to promotion of education in Pakistan. [PakNews] [Dawn]
| IN THE COMPANY OF MOUNTAINS2003, June 8 - Harmony is the key word in Gilgit, the land of mountains, green valleys, succulent strawberries and cherries. Phantastiche (Fantastic), an awe-struck German travelling in the PIA Fokker blurts out as he eyes several snow- covered peaks, merely 2,000 feet below the plane, and at least two even higher than the maximum cruising altitude of the aircraft. He leaves the cockpit and Captain Asif Khan invites me to move into the narrow space inside. [Dawn]
| CONFERENCE CITES VALUES OF THE ISMAILIS2003, June 6 -In the last two years, friends and acquaintances have asked Rafiq Ghaswala about the difference between the two main branches of Islam, the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the origins of the Koran, Islam's holy book. But few people have asked him about the Ismaili sect of Shiite Islam to which he belongs, a minority within a minority among the world's 1 billion Muslims. Few, in fact, have heard of Ismailis, or their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan. [Chicago Tribune]
| FIGHTING PAKISTAN'S GENDER GAP2003, June 6 -CNN) --Izatullah Baig in the small mountain village of Passu is grateful that his children of both sexes had a good education. In Pakistan's Northern Areas, the Aga Khan charitable foundation funds schools and academies for both boys and girls, without discrimination. [CNN]
| A SERIOUS OMISSION IN HISTORY OF URDU LITERATURE2003, June 4 Should the history of Urdu literature be recast to focus the grand development of Ginan poetry of the Ismaili Pirs in the Punjab, Sindh and Gujrat in the 14th and 15th century? The historians have never failed to mention Hazrat Amir Khusro (d. 1324 AD) as the first Urdu or Hindvi poet, but when it comes to some Ismaili Pirs e.g. Pir Shamsuddin Sabzwari (1241-1356) Pir Sadruddin (1300-1416), Pir Hasan Kabiruddin (1341-1449) Pir Tajuddin (d. 1449) and Syed Imam Shah, (d. 1520), the historians of Urdu literature draw a blank forgetting that they have included Hazrat Masood Ganj Shakar, popularly known as Ganj Shakar, who died in 1265 - almost hundred years before Pir Shamsuddin as an old Urdu Poet. [Dawn]
| RATIFICATION OF AGREMENT ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION2003, June 3 - BISHKEK. The issue to ratify agreement on economic cooperation between Kyrgyz government and Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) will be solved on June 3, 2003 at a session of the Legislative Assembly of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan [Kabar] [Kabar2]
| PAKISTANI NURSES TO GET TRAINING2003, June 2 - ISLAMABAD It has been decided by Overseas Pakistanis Foundation to train Pakistani nurses according to international standards that they may be in a better position to compete in international job market. A meeting took place between Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Mian Abdul Sattar Laleka and President Agha Khan University Hospital, Dr Shams Qasim Lakha here, says an official release here Sunday. [PakLink]
| DALAKHANI DELIVERS WITH DYNAMITE PERFORMANCE IN FRENCH DERBY2003, June 1 - The Aga Khan’s unbeaten Dalakhani reigned supreme once again as he thundered down the stretch to capture his sixth straight victory in the $1.3-million Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1) at Chantilly on Sunday. The son of Darshaan scored by an impressive two lengths over Group 2 winner Super Celebre. ..."This is an amazing colt who is maturing all the time, an elegant and talented horse," the Aga Khan told Sporting Life. "He has such presence that it is not so much you who watches him, as him watching you when he races. Today was the first time that he really had to stretch." [Thoroughbred Times] [Sporting Life] [The Telegraph, UK] [BloodHorse] [7 June Epsom Derby]
| KHUSALI BANK TO BANK TO GENERATE 1m BY YEAR 20102003, June 1 - ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: June 01 (PNS) - President, Khushhali Bank, Ghalib Nishtar has said the Bank would continue to generate 100,000 clients each year and by the year 2010 it aims to create about one million clients. He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on "Current Issues in Microfinance," organised by Pakistan Microfinance Network in cooperation with Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan through Social Institutions Development Programme funded by Canadian International Development Agency here Saturday. . [PakNews]
| AKHBP's PROGRAMMES PRAISED2003, June 1 - KARACHI: The March-2003 Bulletin of the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a research study on the achievements of Aga Khan Housing Board for Pakistan's (AKHBP) Water and Sanitation Extension Programme (WASEP). The programme being implemented in the Northern Areas (NA) and Chitral in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation and KFW - the German Development Bank, provides integrated water supply, health, education and sanitation services to the local communities on the principle of community participation and self-help. [The News]
| THE WINTER NIGHT THEY TOOK SHERGAR2003, May 31 - SHERGAR was a wonder horse, loved by everyone but the bookmakers. Bred in Ireland by the Aga Khan, he won six of his eight races. Lester Piggott rode him to a four-length victory in the Irish Derby. The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes were notched up by the same margin. He won the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record 10 lengths. [Belfast Telegraph]
| RESTORE PROP FOR MUSLIM ARCHITECTURE2003, May 29 - Nakhoda Masjid: A magical blend of form and aesthetics to create volume and space The majestic form and prominence of Nakhoda Masjid, in the din and bustle of central Calcutta, the remarkable mosque of Prince Ghulam Mohammad in Tollygunge, or the intricate stucco work and surface decoration on Nawab Wajid Ali Shah’s tomb in Metiabruz. These unique monuments of Islamic architecture in Calcutta could soon become the focus of a comprehensive restoration drive. The Geneva-based Aga Khan Trust for Culture is considering a city NGO’s proposal to support a project for preservation and restoration of historical buildings of Muslim architecture and important public buildings used by Muslims in Calcutta and the rest of Bengal. [The telegraph]
| TRAINING FOR FOCUS2003, May 29 - MOFFET FIELD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) - 1SRG (1st Special Response Group), an all-volunteer, rapid-deployment first response unit returned from conducting an assessment for Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) in Tajikistan. The scope of the project included prevention, mitigation, and preparedness but primarily dealt with assessing the current disaster response capabilities. [Western Disaster Center]
| H.H. THE AGA KHAN MEETS PRESIDENT BUSH2003, May 28 - 12:05 P.M. EDT - During a Press Briefing at James S. Brady Press Briefing Room Ari Fleischer told reporters that "Later this afternoon the President [of the USA] will have a brief meeting with the Aga Khan, who is a leading Shia, a imam of the Shia faith from Asia. The President looks forward to talking with the Aga Khan about expanding opportunities and democracies in Muslim nations." [Source: U.S. Department of State]
| YO-YO MA: THE ROAD RUN SMOOTH AS SILK2003, May 26 - ... Central Asia's most discreetly powerful player, in the form of the Aga Khan. This hereditary leader of the Ismaili branch of Islam believes that today's burning issue is less a clash of civilisations than what he terms the "clash of ignorances". It may come as a surprise, to those who think of this elusive 67-year-old and his family in terms of yachts, palaces and racehorses, to learn the scope of their humanitarian activities - largely through the UN - over the past 50 years. A champion of tolerant pluralism, he has initiated scores of medical, environmental and architectural projects in the undeveloped world, but Islam is his guiding thread. [The Independant]
| FUNDRAISER REACHES WORLD'S NEEDY2003, May 24 - More than 60,000 people in 10 cities expected to take part in Partnership Walk. Helping women in India develop business and marketing plans to sell their traditional beadwork for fair wages was an eye-opening experience for Fatima Sachedina, who spent seven months in a program sponsored by Aga Khan Foundation Canada. [Globe and Mail] [Canada NewsWire - English] [Canada NewsWire - Français]
| NGOs CONNECT UNHCR WITH AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PAKISTAN2003, May 23 - As the UN refugee agency seeks to disseminate information needed by the estimated two million Afghans in Pakistan to make a decision on returning, it is clear that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) already working among the poor know where to find Afghans in a country of 150 million Pakistanis. [WorldNews Network]
| DEVELOPMENT CREDIT BANK HEADS FOR STAKE REJIG2003, May 23 - Calcutta: Development Credit Bank’s French promoter - Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) - may increase its stake in the bank from 49 per cent to 74 per cent. This year’s budget raised the foreign direct investment cap in banks from 49 per cent to 74 per cent. [The Telegraph]
| MORT D'UN PHILANTROPE2003, May 21-27 - Il était le demi-frère d'Ali Khan, mais sa vie aura été d'une plus grande discrétion. Si le prince Sadruddin a défrayé la chronique lors de son premier mariage avec le mannequin Nina Dyer en août 1957, il ne fut ensuite plus question de lui dans les pages mondaines. Car l'homme, très vite, donna à sa vie une orientation sérieuse, profonde, loin des flashs des paparazzi. [Point de Vue]
| CENTRAL ASIA: CHARTER UNIVERSITY TO BRING EDUCATION TO REMOTE MOUNTAIN REGIONS2003, May 22 - Radio Liberty - Central Asia is to become the site of the world's first internationally chartered university. The University of Central Asia will have three campuses in the mountain regions of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. [Radio]
| PARTNERSHIP WALK2003, May 22 - The London Free Press News - Participants in this weekend's World Partnership Walk won't just be stretching their limbs -- they'll be fighting world poverty. [London Press]
| GROUP PLANS AIDS RESOURCE CENTRE2003, May 21 - Nation (Kenya) - The centre will assist staff members and communities in health, education and commercial sectors in addressing the Aids pandemic, the Aga Khan Foundation (East Africa) regional chief executive officer, Mr Arif Necky, said yesterday. [Nation]
| AGA KHAN EYES BUJAGALI DEAL2003, May 20 - Kampala - THE Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismailia Muslim sect, wants to invest in Uganda's energy sector, particularly the Bujagali hydro electric power project. High level sources said the Aga Khan, who has often visited Uganda and met President Yoweri Museveni, says he is ready to inject $20m as equity in the delayed project. He was last here in February. [New Vision]
| SADRUDDIN AGA KHAN ANCIEN RESPONSABLE DU HAUT COMMISSARIAT DES NATIONS UNIS POUR LES REFUGIES2003, May 17 Le Monde - Le prince Sadruddin Aga Khan , ancien responsable du Haut commissariat des Nations unies pour les réfugiés (HCR), est mort, lundi 12 mai, à l'hôpital Massachusetts General, à Boston (Etats-Unis), des suites d'une longue maladie. Il était âgé de 70 ans. Il manquait au prince Sadruddin Aga Khan la qualité essentielle pour devenir secrétaire général de l'ONU : une nationalité. Il en avait quatre : française, britannique, pakistanaise et indienne. Issu du royaume sans territoire qu'est l'ismaélisme, il n'accepta jamais la notion de nationalisme [Le Monde]
| MUERE EL PRINCIPE SADRUDDIN AGA KHAN2003, May 17 Hola - El príncipe Sadruddin Aga Khan, antiguo alto comisionado para Refugiados de Naciones Unidas (UNHCR) desde 1960 hasta 1970, falleció el pasado lunes en Boston a la edad de 70 años. [Hola]
| CONDOLENCES2003, May 16 - Letter of condolence from [Premier Gordon Campbell]White House Statement [From President George Bush Secrétaire général, M. Kofi Annan Associated Press Le Haut Commissaire des Nations Unies President Gen Pervez Musharraf]
| PRINCE SADRUDDIN AGA KHAN LAID TO REST IN COLLONGE-BELLERIVE2003, May 16 -Collonge-Bellerive, Switzerland- In the calm of the quiet Swiss commune at whose heart he lived for nearly half a century, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan was today laid to rest following traditional Muslim ceremonies, attended, as he had wished, by his most intimate family. [Press Release - Burial]
| CELEBRATED U.N. HUMANITARIAN LEADER PRINCE SADRUDDIN AGA KHAN DIES AT AGE 702003, May 13 - It is with utmost sadness that we have learned that Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan has taken his last breath on 12th May 2003 in Boston. The Prince had been United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees for many years and was a champion in the defense of environmental issues. [Full Gallery w/photos] [Press Release] [Reuters Foundation - News Desk 1] [Reuters Foundation - News Desk 2] [The Toronto Star] [The UN News Centre] [Edicom] [The Kansas City Star] [La Stampa] [Basler Zeitung Online] [The Independant - long article] [Boston Herald] [Cnews] [AFP w/photo] [BBC] [The News] [VOA] [KataWeb Italian] [Tribune de Geneve w/photo] [Communiqué de Presse] [Press Release] [UNHCR] [Guardian] [NFB] [The Scotsman] [Helsingin Sanomat] [SwissInfo Français w/photo] [White House Statement] [The Terra Daily] [UNHCR - statement] [Washingston Post] [IRNA] [HiPakistan] [Le Matin] [Le Quotidien D'Oran] [Times] [Telegraph] [Daily Times] [The Philadelphia Inquirer] [Point de Vue] [The Herald Tribune] [Mid-Day India] [al-Hayat] [Funeral arrangements] [South Asian Outlook] [The Monachus Guardian]
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DALAKHANI KEEPS UNBEATEN RECORD2003, May 11 - The Aga Khan colt, Dalakhani, maintained his 100 per cent record with a smooth victory in the Prix Lupin at Longchamp. "He dug deep, but I was not too worried during the last stages," said winning owner-breeder the Aga Khan. [Ananova][Throughbred Times]
| HER HIGHNESS BEGUM INAARA AGA KHAN AT ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS2003, May 9 - HELLO Magazine: Cherie was joined at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards ceremony by the Aga Khan's wife, Her Highness Begum Inaara Aga Khan. [Photo] [HELLO Magazine]
| AKU ALLOWED TO SET UP EDUCATION BOARD2003, May 9 - Dawn the Internet Edition - Karachi: The federal government is learnt to have allowed Aga Khan University to establish its own board of intermediate and secondary education, first-ever in the private sector in the country. [Dawn The Internet Edition]
| KASHMIR IN FOCUS2003, May 9 - Asia Times - Recently, Prince Karim visited both India and Pakistan, where he met with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President General Pervez Musharraf. During both meetings he stressed the need for a practical solution on Kashmir, as well as confidence-building measures between the two countries. It is perhaps no coincidence, then, that soon after the prince's visits, the flurry of exchanges between Delhi and Islamabad has resulted in the countries expressing the desire to resume road, rail and air links, as well as top-level diplomatic ties and softer visa regulations to make it easier for divided families to reunite. [Asia Times] [International - The News]
| $25-MILLION HOTEL IN KABULMay 8, 2003 - Financial Post: Aga Khan to build US $25-million hotel in Kabul- The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, a for-profit arm of the philantropic Aga Khan Development Network, is rebuilding a US $25-million hotel in the Afghan Capital of Kabul, investing in Kyrgyzstan and providing loans to mountain farmers in Tajikistan. [Financial Post]
| AGA KHAN FOR CIVIL SOCIETY SUPPORT IN CENTRAL ASIAMay 8, 2003 - The Times of Central Asia: Prince Karim Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, on Wednesday called on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and other international financial institutions to "look in depth at the problems that should be addressed in supporting non-commercial civil society institutions." [The Times of Central Asia] [The New Vision]
| CLASS OF CIVILIZATIONS2003, May 7 - Toronto.Recent global events have been framed as a ''clash of civilizations'' -- between the Muslim world and the Judeo-Christian West. This thesis is constructed on a faulty premise, one that sees ''Islam'' and ''the West'' as somehow having developed in isolation. To talk about a such a clash is to make the fundamental mistake of forgetting the common bases of Western and Muslim civilizations. Ottawa's new inquiry into relations with the Muslim world is an opportunity to study that world's diversity, and offer our own ideas on pluralism, says NAZEER AZIZ LADHAN [Globe & Mail] [CNW]
| AGA KHAN INITIATIVE TO PRESERVE MUSIC2003, May 6 - DUSHANBE, Tajikistan: Following critically acclaimed concerts in North America and Europe, Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble brought their unique fusion of ancient Silk road traditions and western classical music to the heart of the Silk road: in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Dushanbe, Tajikistan. "For many years, I have felt that traditional music played such a critical role in the cultures of Central Asia that it deserved attention and assistance," Prince Karim Aga Khan remarked. "The need became all the more apparent after the countries of the region achieved independence and began the process of redefining themselves. For the new countries of Central Asia, the inherent pluralism of their societies can be an asset rather than a liability." [The News]
| AGA KHAN INTERESTED IN HBL2003, May 6 - LAHORE: The government led by Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has undertaken a record privatisation of Rs4 billion in its initial months which is unprecedented as compared to any previous track record , said Privatisation Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh. Prince Karim Aga Khan who visited Pakistan only recently has also shown interest in HBL, he said. He added that efforts were being made to attract bidders also from Malaysia and the Middle East. [Dawn]
| AGA KHAN: PLURALISM CRUCIAL FOR CIVIL SOCIETY2003, May 6 - Tashkent - Aga Khan at the Business Forum in Tashkent. In the closing event at the EBRD Business Forum in Tashkent, the Aga Khan spoke of development as a multifaceted process. He stressed that engagement must be "permanent and localised". President Lemierre not only thanked the Aga Khan for sharing his thoughts and experiences with the Bank, but also echoed his remarks: "Banking is not only about money", he said. It is also about development, poverty alleviation, and the support of civil society. [EBRD w/photos] [AKDN] [Daily nation] [Speech] [the News]
| EC OKAYS 20m EURO GRANT FOR AKF2003, May 6 - ISLAMABAD: The European Commission (EC) has approved 20 million euros (approximately Rs 1.28 billion) grant for Pakistan's educational development, to be undertaken by Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKFP) over the next five years. The grant aims at improving access, quality and sustainability of education for in-school and out-of-school children, with increased gender equity and the participation of communities in the Northern Areas and Chitral (NAC). [The News] [Pakistan Link] [Balochistan Express] [Dawn]
| AGA KHAN AIDS CENTRAL ASIA2003, May 6 - Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Bloomberg) -- The Aga Khan, known for his portfolio of racehorses and investments in luxury Italian hotels, is looking to impoverished countries in Central Asia for profits. The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, a for-profit arm of the philanthropic Aga Khan Development Network, is rebuilding a $25 million hotel in the Afghan capital of Kabul and providing loans to mountain farmers in Tajikistan. It also has a 30 percent stake in the Kyrgyz Investment Credit Bank, which provides the funding for most of Kyrgyzstan's infrastructure projects. [Bloomberg] [Herald Tribune]
| PAKISTAN GOV'T LIKELY TO DECLARE GWADER A TAX FREE ZONE2003, May 6 - ISLAMABAD, Asia Pulse - The government is likely to declare Gwadar a tax-free zone, to create opportunities for investors in the country. These suggestions were discussed during meetings between H. H. Prince Karim Aga Khan and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali. Prince Aga Khan showed a keen interest in the new seaport area. He was asked by the finance minister to enhance operations of First Micro-finance Bank, which he agreed. [PPI]
| GOVT COMMITTED TO UPLIFT REMOTE AREAS2003, May 4 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Saturday said his government was committed to the development of health, education, female literacy and employment in country's remotest areas. Talking to Prince Karim Aga Khan, who called on him at the Prime Minister House, Jamali appreciated the useful contributions made by the Ismaili community for the socio-economic development of the country. The prime minister particularly noted Aga Khan's contribution towards health and education sectors and expressed the hope that it would hasten country's transition towards economic prosperity. Jamali said his government is according high priority to the development of backward and remote areas of the country. He thanked Prince Karim Aga Khan for evincing keen interest in country's overall development and improving the quality of life of its people. [The Times] [Jang] [Dawn]
| AGA KHAN HELPED BREAK PAK-INDIA IMPASSE2003, May 3 KARACHI: At least two knowledgeable ruling politicians and a few senior Pakistani officials are crediting intense background efforts of spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, Prince Karim Aga Khan, for diplomatic breakthrough between Islamabad and New Delhi that in the past few days again ignited hope of a durable peace. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee surprised the world in the past two weeks when he suddenly reversed the belligerent Indian stance of equating Pakistan with Saddam Hussain's Iraq by offering "decisive" peace talks and restoration of full diplomatic relations with Pakistan. Informed senior Pakistani officials and top ruling politicians have now said that they believed that besides the continuing diplomatic pressure from Washington, the personal efforts of Prince Karim Aga Khan over the past two weeks played a crucial role in encouraging the Indian leadership, particularly Prime Minister Vajpayee, to initiate fresh efforts to resolve Kashmir issue with Pakistan. "It seemed that Aga Khan devoted much of his time behind the glare of publicity in April in breaking ice between New Delhi and Islamabad," divulged an informed a diplomatic source, who didn't want to be identified. [The News] [Album Photo [The News] [Gulf News] [NIP] [Daily Excelsior] [Indo Link]
| PAKISTAN FOR PEACE WITH INDIA: MUSHARRAF2003, May 3 Islamabad ready for talks with Delhi at any time, anywhere; seeks ties of trust with Afghanistan; Aga Khan lauds Pak economic achievements - Prince Karim Aga Khan, in his speech, said Pakistan is his second home and assured of his commitment to stand by its leadership in the achievement of goals set by it. Referring to the recent difficult times for the Muslim countries, Aga Khan appreciated the Pakistani leadership for having "the strength to take decisions on intractable problems". He praised the courage, knowledge and competence of Pakistani leaders. He expressed his gratitude for the hospitality extended to him during the visit. [The News] [Dawn] [Hi Pakistan] [PakNews] [Hindustan Times]
| AGA KHAN CALLS ON MUSHARRAF2003, May 3 The president hosted a dinner in honour of the Aga Khan which was also attended by cabinet ministers, senior government officials and a cross section of the Ismali community from all over the country. Earlier in the afternoon, the Aga Khan was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival at Islamabad airport on a three-day official visit to Pakistan. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao greeted the distinguished guest on behalf of the president of Pakistan. [The News] [Dawn] [PakTribune w/photos] [Photo1 Rawalpindi May 2] [Photo2 Rawalpindi May 2] [Photo5 Islamabad May 2] [Article May 3, 2003] [Article May 5, 2003]
| PRESIDENT MET WITH PRINCE KARIM AGA KHAN, SCIENTISTS AND ARCHITECTS2003, May 1 Astana, Kazakhstan - "- We started with the program of extended education - this program is for those people, for specialists who already work, and posses a profession," said Prince Karim Aga Khan, President of Aga Khan’s Development Organization. His organization also pays much attention to the development of musical art. This dedication was made evident by a visit of well-known cellist Yo Yo Ma to Kazakhstan, which was arranged by the organization. Aga Khan said this was also part of the University’s educational programme. [Times of Central Asia] [Khabar News]
| PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN RECEIVED AGA KHAN2003, April 30: Astana, KAZINFORM. President of Kazakhstan Received Aga Khan. Today President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has received the distinguished public figure Prince Karim Aga Khan in Astana. The two discussed issues of regional development, particularly, activities of Central Asia University that researches problems of mountainous regions. Campuses of the university are situated in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The education is paid, however, the special commission considers financial conditions of each student, and grants privileges if one deserves. [More] [AKDN Press release]
| H.H. THE AGA KHAN IS COMING TO KAZAKHSTAN ON A SHORT VISIT2003, April 30: Astana, KAZINFORM. On April 29, in the evening, a well-known public man, spiritual leader of Moslems-Ismailites His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan is arriving in Almaty, the Kazakh information agency reports. On April 30 in the course of his short visit Aga Khan will meet with the Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and also with some members of the Kazakhstan Government. During these meetings various questions will be covered, in particular, Aga Khan’s activity on the development in Kazakhstan and the region on the whole. [More]
| MUSOLEUM THAT HUMAYUN NEVER BUILT2003, April 28 HUMAYUN'S TOMB, one of the 23 heritage sites in India, has come alive - at a cost of Rs.3 crore thanks to the Aga Khan - with dormant fountains playing again, old forgotten wells being redug and lights illuminating the mausoleum whose garden, in which tobacco was given till 1915, has been redesigned. Unlike many emperors, Humayun did not plan his own tomb for the simple reason that he did not expect to die so soon and suddenly at the age of 55, after a fall down the stairs of his library in the Purana Qila. [The Hindu]
| PRINCE AGA KHAN / KARA-TARYK - KYRGYSTAN2003, April 25 Osh (KABAR). Prince Aga Khan to allocate $50000 to let down the bars of landslide in Kara-Taryk - His Highness the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims expressed wish to allocate $50000 to let down the bars of landslide in Kara-Taryk village of Uzgen region. This was disclosed in his condolence message addressed to Governor Naken Kasiev of Osh Oblast (the south of Kyrgyzstan). Kyrgyz National News Agency "Kabar" .
| KYRGYZ AMBASSADOR TO INDIA MET WITH PRINCE AGA KHAN2003, April 24 Bishkek. (KABAR). In Delhi, Kyrgyz Ambassador Bakyt Beshimov met with His Highness the Aga Khan, who arrived in India on an official visit with the purpose to expand the work of the Foundation on conservation of cultural legacy, informs the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in India. They exchanged opinions on wide range of issues and the Ambassador thanked the Aga Khan for investments in education of Kyrgyzstan. The Aga Khan attaches importance to dialog of civilization and aspires to improve education, helping peoples of developing countries, receive advantage from globalization. The Aga Khan set off to Kazakhstan after the visit to India. Besides, he also intends to visit Kyrgyzstan.
| FROM DOOM TO BLOOM2003, April 19 - NEW DELHI - “I am not the star of the show,” Ritesh Nanda protests as he shies away from the range of our cameraman Amit Kumar’s focus, “the star is behind you.” The star, in question, is the garden at Humayun’s Tomb, a star destination on a traveller’s itinerary, bang in the nerve centre of teeming Delhi. The site was declared a world heritage monument by UNESCO in 1992. [Business Standard]
| AFGHAN LEADER, AGA KHAN DISCUSS COOPERATION2003, April 19 - BBC - The head of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, esteemed Hamed Karzai, met Prince Karim Aga Khan in the Golkhana palace this afternoon. At the meeting, first the head of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, esteemed Hamed Karzai, talked about the progress of work on the constitution and administrative reforms. [BBC]
| AGA KHAN URGES TOLERANCE IN THE WORLD2003, April 19 - NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Aga Khan, spiritual head of the world's 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims, said on Saturday survival of an interdependent globe hinged on people showing tolerance of the cultures, values and faiths of others. Prince Karim Aga Khan, speaking to Reuters in an interview in the aftermath of the Iraq war, said the need for better cross-cultural understanding had never been greater at what he called a "clearly a defining moment in world history." [Reuters]
| AGA KHAN DISCUSSES SCOPE OF DEVELOPMENTAL NETWORK WITH SINHA2003, April 17 - New Delhi: The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, today discussed with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha the scope of his development network in promoting education, health and rural development in India... He is scheduled to leave for Kabul tomorrow [Zee News] [Photo with V. Khanna]
| AGA KHAN SAYS HERITAGE IS AT RISK AFTER DESTRUCTION OF CULTURAL TREASURES2003, April 16 - New Delhi: THE Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims and a scholar of Islamic history and art, yesterday lamented the destruction of historical treasures in Iraq and Afghanistan. "We are witnessing in Afghanistan, and now in Iraq, that the very survival of our heritage is today at risk, destroyed under the dust of our own indifference," said the wealthy philanthropist, Prince Karim Aga Khan. "We must renew our vigour to revitalize our shared heritage." the Aga Khan was in New Delhi to unveil newly restored gardens at one of India's major monuments and meet with Indian leaders to discuss co-operation with his foundation, which is promoting education, rural development, health care and the preservation of heritage sites in India. [Photo with Sonia Gandhi] [Speech] [Times of India] [Herald] [AP News w/photo] [AFP News w/photo] [Express India] [BBC] [Dawn] [Photo1] [Photo2] [Express India]
| RENOVATED HUMAYUN'S TOMB2003, April 15 - New Delhi: Mughal emperor Humayun's mausoleum here, said to be the Indian subcontinent's first garden tomb, reopens Tuesday. The 16th century monument was renovated under a programme taken up jointly by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Aga Khan Foundation for Culture and the Oberoi Group of Hotels. [Hindustan Times] [AKDN Press Release] [Sify News] [Daily Times w/photo] [Dawn] [The News 17 April 2003] [Financial Express 20 April 2003]
| HUMAYUN TOMB RISES AGAIN2003, April 14 - New Delhi: For restoring the gardens of the World Heritage Monument, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) collaborated with the Geneva-based Aga Khan Trust for Culture that gave US $ 6,50,000. On Tuesday, the Aga Khan will unveil the original glory of the [Tomb and its environment] [Times of India]
| SHIA LEADER AGA KHAN MEETS PRESIDENT2003, April 14 - New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam today suggested an integrated approach to accelerate the pace of development in three key sectors -- education, health and rural development. Kalam made the suggestion at a meeting with a delegation headed by the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. [Mid Day News] [The Hindu w/photo] [PTI News] [Zee News] [Statsmen News]
| ROYAL WEDDING IN BELGIUM2003, April 12: H.H. The Aga Khan and Begum Inaara were invited in Brussels, to the wedding of Prince Laurent, one of the 3 sons of King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium, with Claire Coombs. [Photo1] [Photo2]
| AGA KHAN FOUNDATION WORK PRAISED IN UK2003, April 9 - Daily Nation: The Aga Khan Development Network has been praised in London for its "outstanding work" in Kenya. In a debate in the House of Lords on Monday night, which discussed a whole range of development issues across East Africa, Baroness Rawlings said the Network was one of the "finest organisations" in the field of development assistance. "The AKDN comprises private development agencies to improve living conditions and opportunities in East Africa and other specific regions of the developing world," Baroness Rawlings said. [More]
| UNESCO HERITAGE DISTINCTION AWARD FOR GANISH-HUNZA2003, April 8 - Dawn - ISLAMABAD: Hunza has once again achieved Unesco's Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation, a statement issued here on Monday said. The award of distinction for the year 2002 has been given to Ganish, a small settlement in central Hunza in the Northern Areas, for preserving four historical mosques. In all, 142 entries from 37 Asia-Pacific countries competed for the Award. [More]
| CREDIBLE DEMOCRACY WILL TAKE TIME2003, April 7 - South Africa News24- - Creating a credible democracy in Iraq will be a long and difficult process, according to the Aga Khan, billionaire spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims, in an interview to appear on Tuesday. "Democracy has not been applied in Iraq for a very long time," he said in Tuesday's edition of the French Roman Catholic newspaper La Croix. "Putting in place a credible system will take time and will be difficult. Afghanistan proves that," said Prince Karim Aga Khan, leader of the Ismaili group of Islam's Shi'ite branch. The solution depended on five basic questions: [More News24] [Complete French Interview] English Translation: [.doc file] [ .pdf file]
| TAJIKISTAN MAY RECEIVE ABOUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS FOR COMBATING POVERTY2003, April 5 - Members of donor countries' governments and of international agencies for development have expressed readiness to allocate $900 million to Tajikistan for combating poverty. According to Director of the World Bank for the Countries of Central Asia Dennis de Tray, the money will be given to Tajikistan during a three-year period, with $200 million in the form of humanitarian aid and $700 million in the form of grants. [Pravda]
| BEGUM AGA KHAN KOMMT ZUR GALA FUR KINDER IN NOT NACH2003, April 5 - Berlin bekommt im Herbst eine Gala mit königlichem Glanz: Am 19. September wird die Begum Inaara Aga Khan im Schlüterhof im Deutschen Historischen Museum Schirmherrin von "Innocence in Danger" (Unschuld in Gefahr) sein. Zu dem Fest, bei dem es um den Kampf gegen Kindesmissbrauch geht, werden königliche Hoheiten und prominente Gäste aus Wirtschaft, Kultur, Politik und Gesellschaft erwartet, teilte die Agentur Hardenberg Concept am Wochenende mit. [Die Welt] [Spiegel]
| AGA KHAN TO SPEAK AT EBRD ANNUAL MEETING IN TASHKENT2003, April 3 - Press Release:His Highness the Aga Khan, the Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and renowned philanthropist, will deliver the traditional Jacques de Larosière Lecture to conclude the 2003 Business Forum at the EBRD's Annual Meeting, to be held in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent 4-5 May. [More]
| STATE OF THE ART IMAGING EQUIPMENT FOR THE AGA KHAN HOSPITAL, MOMBASA2003, March 21-26 Coastweek - - A new high end single slice spiral CT Scanner and a Mammography Unit will be installed at the Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa within the next month as part of the ongoing service and quality development programme of the hospital. The installation of state of the art equipment is part of the regional imaging plan for the Aga Khan Health Services in Kenya. [Coastweek]
| AGA KHAN EDUCATION SERVICES PLANS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE2003, March 21 - The Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) intends to build a centre of excellence in Tanzania which will teach, among other subjects, computer and language skills and physical education. AKES will also build similar centres in Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Bangladesh, India, Mozambique, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. [More]
| AGA KHAN HOSPITAL UNVEILS PRIVATE WING2003, March 16: Sunday Nation - Kenya - A private state-of-the art health wing of Nairobi's Aga Khan Hospital was opened yesterday. The Princess Zahra Pavilion is a prestigious in-patient centre named after Princess Zahra, the eldest daughter of the Aga Khan. Built at a cost of Sh1.2 billion, the 61-bed wing has eight executive suites, with a private entrance and lift. All its rooms are air-conditioned, with ensuite bathrooms and satellite TV. Also included is a mini-fridge. The rooms will be used for specific purposes, such as labour delivery, recovery and postmortem services. A nursery with special baby facilities is also part of the new wing. [Sunday Nation]
| AGA KHAN ACADEMY IS A 'HUGE BOOST' FOR COAST EDUCATION2003, March 14: Mombasa, Kenya - Coastweek - - The Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, is scheduled to open at their new location situated along Kilindini Channel in August 2003 for the academic year 2003-2004. It will be comprised of two schools: Junior (presently known as the Aga Khan Junior Academy) and Senior (presently known as KENSEC). In due course, the Aga Khan Nursery School will be relocated to the new campus. [Coastweek1] [Coastweek2]
| AGA KHAN FOUNDATION SUPPORTS EDUCATION SECTOR2003, March 14: Maputo (AIM) - Political and economic stability in Mozambique for the last 10 years makes the country one of the most important reference points for investment in Africa, said in Maputo on Wednesday Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who arrived in Maputo for a two day official visit. [AIM Agência de Notícias] [AKDN Press release] [The News]
| NAIROBI PREPARES TO HOST TOP MEDIA EVENT2003, March 6:It will be the 52nd Congress of the International Press Institute, a global network of editors, media executives and leading print and broadcasting journalists, and will be held over four days - June 1 to 4 - in Nairobi. Among the renowned speakers expected at the Congress are South African President Thabo Mbeki, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community worldwide. Subsequent news on this subject: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - Security: World media congress in Nairobi cancelled - A global media congress scheduled for Nairobi from June 1-4 has been cancelled, thanks to fears of a terrorist attack. The International Press Institute (IPI) - the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists - announced the cancellation of the world congress yesterday. [The Daily Nation]
| AFRICA'S FUTURE BRIGHT - AGA KHAN2003, March 3: THE AGA Khan last week expressed cautious optimism about the future of certain parts of Africa. Speaking at the conclusion of a visit to Madagascar in the course of a working tour of East Africa, he said, "A fresh approach to ethics in public life and in the private sector, an improved recognition of the inherent pluralism of contemporary societies, and increased opportunity to build high competence in the sectors of greatest need, are features of the new horizons that I see in Africa today." [The East African] [Farewell Picture]
| Aga Khan Award for Architecture/Building cultural bridges2003, March 1: Zahid Sardar, Chronicle Design Editor - As the nation's attention focuses on war with Iraq, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (the triennial equivalent of the Pritzker Prize) helps to build a deeper appreciation of large and small structures from the Islamic world. The award, now in its ninth cycle, was begun in 1977 by the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of a small sect of Muslims, and is now run under the aegis of his Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Geneva. Typically, such internationally renowned architects as Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Charles Correa, Ricardo Legorreta, Kenzo Tange, Peter Eisenman or artist Mona Hatoum join the Aga Khan's steering committee or master jury, giving the hefty prize, totaling $500,000, worldwide visibility and credibility. The 2004 nominees are being interviewed by a steering committee that includes Jacques Herzog of Herzog & de Meuron, architects of the new M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco. [SF Chronicle]
| THE AGA KHAN, MUSEVENI MEET2003, February 24:The spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan, arrived in the country yesterday for talks with President Yoweri Museveni. The Aga Khan, who flew in at 2:20pm on his private jet, was received at Entebbe International Airport by State ministers for regional co-operation Col. Kahinda Otafiire and for investment Sam Kutesa. The Ismaili leader, who was accorded a red-carpet reception, boarded a helicopter to Museveni’s private ranch at Kisozi, where the two were scheduled to hold talks. He will be here for two days. [Monitor w/photo] [New Vision w/photo] [New Vision 26 February] [Airport arrival photos]
| MISSION REMPLIE POUR L 'AGA KHAN2003, February 24:Au terme de sa 4e journée de séjour en terre malgache, la délégation de SAR Aga Khan a quitté le pays pour rallier l'Ouganda qui sera sa prochaine destination. Quatre jours qui ont permis à la délégation, malgré le caractère strictement privé de sa visite, de discuter avec les plus hauts responsables politiques du pays dont le président du Sénat Rajemison Rakotomaharo, représentant le Président de la République Marc Ravalomanana, et le Premier ministre Jacques Sylla. [L'Express de Madagascar w/photo] [La Tribune 1] [La Tribune 2] [Video of Madagascar visit!]
| AGA KHAN - UN « CENTRE D'EXCELLENCE » À TANA2003, February 24:La Tribune - [FRENCH] L'Afrique et le monde en développement peuvent aider à créer des centres pédagogiques d'excellence allant des caractéristiques tant nationales qu'internationales et qui aideront à faire des jeunes hommes et femmes de toutes conditions sociales et du monde entier les leaders de demain". Le campus de 4,1 hectares de Kilindini, où l'on distingue déjà les contours détaillés d'un village swahili, comportera des salles de classe, des bibliothèques, des laboratoires de langue et de sciences ultra modernes, des terrains de jeu et une piscine, le tout dans un environnement pédagogique entièrement connecté en réseau et à l'Internet. [La Tribune] [Press Release]
| HOTEL CRITICAL TO REBIRTH OF KABUL2003, February 23: Boston Globe - KABUL, Afghanistan -- The lobby is a dusty heap of rubble and fallen beams. The once-elegant lounge is piled with old sofas, sinks, and beds stripped from guest rooms. The former cigar bar is a series of dank, brick archways -- with no bar and no cigars. Welcome to the Kabul Hotel. It is none too inviting in its current state, but come this fall the 110-room hotel will reopen with a five-star rating after a $26 million renovation. The project is part of a broader revival of the Afghan capital's hotel and restaurant scene that marks a fresh avenue in the country's efforts to rebuild following decades of war. [Boston Globe]
| SON ALTESSE L'AGA KHAN POUR LA DEUXIEME FOIS EN VISITE À MADAGASCAR2003, February 22:L'Express de Madagascar - [FRENCH] Cela fait 37 ans, en effet, que "le Dieu vivant" des ismaéliens n'étaient pas venus visiter ses fidèles de Madagascar. C'est, en effet, en 1966, alors âgé de 30 ans seulement, que ce très bel homme, devenu imam en 1957 à l'âge de 20 ans seulement, avait effectué sa première et unique visite officielle à Madagascar, à l'époque où Philibert Tsiranana était, pour quelques années encore, président de la 1ère République malgache. [L'Express w/photo] [Midi Madagasikara]
| TWO DAY PRIVATE MOMBASA VISIT2003, February 21:Coast Week - Kenya - The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili community worldwide, arrived in Mombasa on Thursday for a two-day private visit. The private jet carrying him touched down at the Moi International Airport at 1.08 pm. He was welcomed by the chairman of the Aga Khan Council in Mombasa, Mr Alnoor Jiwan, Mombasa Mayor Taih A. Taib and Cabinet ministers Hon. Karisa Maitha and Hon. Najib Balala. [Coast Week w/ photos] [The Nation] [Saturday Nation] [Costweek special]
| ARRIVEE DE L'AGA KHAN PREVUE POUR DEMAIN2003, February 20:L'Express - Madagascar - Son Altesse Royale Karim Khan IV, chef spirituel des musulmans ismaeliens, est attendue demain. De nombreux signes d'effervescence confirment les informations de sources proches du ministère des Affaires étrangères, sur une visite annoncée comme "strictement" privée et à dominante communautaire. [L'Express with English translation now] [L'Express 19th Feb.]
| KIBAKI MEETS THE AGA KHAN2003, February 18:The Nation (Kenya) - President Mwai Kibaki and the Aga Khan held lengthy discussions yesterday morning at State House, Nairobi. The talks were attended by Foreign Affairs minister Kalonzo Musyoka, Permanent Secretary Peter ole Nkuraiya and Chief of Protocol George Owuor. The spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, who arrived on Sunday, is scheduled to visit projects sponsored by the Aga Khan Development Network. [The Nation] [The East African]
| KIBAKI, AGA KHAN HOLD TALKS2003, February 17: President Mwai Kibaki and the visiting spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, Aga Khan held talks at State House on Monday. The Presidential Press Service said in a statement that the two held lengthy discussions but did not divulge the particular issues on the agenda. Those present during the talks were the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry Peter ole Nkuraiya and the Chief of Protocol George Owuor. [KBC English] [Taifa Swahili] [Press Releasea/>] [Nation w/photo] [State House w/photo]
| AGA KHAN, NEQAS POOL RESOURCES TO ENSURE QUALITY IN LABORATORY TESTS2003, February 17: The Aga Khan Hospital Nairobi Laboratory, has been working with the National External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS) in the UK, the Centres for Disease Control in US, and the Aga Khan University in Pakistan to ensure that the clinical tests carried out by the laboratory meet international quality standards. The NEQAS covers haematology work where tests are done for blood disorders such as anaemia, leukaemia, sickle cell disease and parasitic infections in the blood. The scheme requires the Aga Khan Hospital to analyse blood samples submitted by NEQAS to check the accuracy of the work carried out by the hospital’s laboratory. [The East African]
| BLAIR AND AGA KHAN DISCUSS IRAQ TENSIONS2003, February 10: By PA News Reporter (UK) - Prime Minister Tony Blair today spoke with the leader of one of the world’s largest Muslim communities about the current tensions over Iraq. The Aga Khan, leader of the 15 million Ismaili Muslims, had talks with Mr Blair at 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that the discussions had involved “a general overview of the overall international situation”. [PA News at http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=5737310]
| KARACHI: FUND-RAISER FOR PATIENTS ORGANIZED2003, February 9:More than a thousand people attended a fund-raising event on Saturday night at which hundreds of thousands of rupees were raised for poor patients. Anwar Maqsood and Tina Sani performed at the event which was organized by the Resource Development Committee of the Aga Khan University. [Dawn]
| KABUL'S HOTEL PREPARE FOR VISITORS' RETURN2003, February 7:To step through the door of Room 132 of the Kabul Hotel is to fall 20ft to a pile of rubble below. The white-painted doorway is all that remains of the room that, along with a big chunk of the hotel, was bombed during Afghanistan's fierce civil war. Over the coming months, Room 132 will be rebuilt as part of a $26m reconstruction project aimed at turning the 110-room hotel into a five-star attraction with shops, a health club and a Mogul-style garden. [Financial Times]
| PHILANTHROPISTS DONATE Rs20m FOR ONCOLOGY FACILITY2003, February 3: Karachi - The Aga Khan University took a big step towards realizing its dream of setting up a well-equipped oncology services facility when it managed to raise Rs20 million at a dinner on Saturday night , bringing the total amount collected from philanthropists to Rs220 million. The facility is expected to cost Rs456 million, about Rs216 million of which will be given by the university. This means that only about Rs20 million remains to be raised which, according to the university administration, will be raised soon. [More from Dawn]
| WORLD AWARE BUSINESS AWARDS 20022003, February 1: LONDON, UK: Feb 01 (PNS) - Agha Khan University's Centre of English Language Karachi has won British Council commendation World Aware Business Award 2002 in recognition of its services for promoting English language in back areas of Gilgit, Chitral and Tajikistan. This reward was received by Sabahat Khan Tartari, senior member of the Agha Khan university and Associate Prof Muhammad Zafar of Centre of English Language from a senior official of the British Council. Sabahat and Prof Zafar are currently doing their post-graduation from WarWick university in the United Kingdom. [More from PakNews]
| AGA KHAN TO SPEND Sh2 BILLION ON SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS2003, February 1: The Aga Khan Development Network (Kenya) will this year spend over Sh2 billion to construct three schools in Mombasa and an extension to the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi. The network's representative, Ambassador Anil Ishani said some Sh462 million will be used to construct the schools in Nyali and Kilindini. Ishani said they are also spending Sh1.5 billion on the second phase of the Aga Khan Hospital to make it a specialised medical centre and will involve getting State-of-the-art equipment. [More from East African]
| CONSTRUCTION SECOND TAJIK-AFGHAN BRIDGE STARTS2003, January 28: The construction of the second of five bridges to be built across the Panj river [to link Tajikistan and Afghanistan] has started in keeping with a tripartite agreement between the Tajik and Afghan governments and the Aga Khan foundation. The bridge is being built in [eastern Tajikistan's] Darvoz District's village of Ruzba. [More from BBC]
| IPS TRAINING TO COVER KAMPALA, DAR2003, January 27: THE INDUSTRIAL Promotion Services (IPS) graduate management development programme, which was started in Kenya in 2001, will soon be extended to Tanzania and Uganda. The objective is to recruit and train top-flight young graduates to develop into outstanding executives to manage IPS companies in East Africa. IPS is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED). Through equity investment, AKFED promotes private-sector initiatives that provide employment and improve living conditions in Africa and Asia. [More from BBC]
| KARIM L'AFRICAIN2003, January:Saga - Karim Aga Khan, descendant du prophète, milliardaire est aussi l'un des premiers investisseurs du continent. Retour sur un parcours hors du commun et sur une entreprise qui tente de conjuguer rentabilité et philantropie..écrit Jean-Claude Grenier dans la revue Economia 26/27 de décembre 2002/janvier 2003 [Revue Economia]
| TROUBLED ISMAILI HOMECOMING2003, january 24:Afghanistan's Ismaili community, which suffered mass killings under the Taleban regime, is now facing persecution under the country's new transitional democratic government. The Ismailis, who broke from the mainstream Shi'a Muslims in the 8th century and have over the years settled in several countries and in pockets of Afghanistan, particularly the Kayan valley north-west of Kabul, have long been regarded with suspicion by other groups in this conservative Muslim country because of their unorthodox religious views and practices. [Relief Web]
| SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS2003, january 22:With all the erratic moves in foreign policy around the world, when everything seems to change dramatically from moment to moment, one searches for answers to the conflicts that appear to be closing in on us from all sides. We hope for long-term, realistic answers that could start stitching the world together instead of tearing it apart. Well, I think I have found one. [Harrisburg Patriot]
| INVESTORS SET TO GIVE OVER 30m DOLLARS TO EASTERN TAJIK POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM2003, January 18: Investors set to give over 30m dollars to eastern Tajik power supply system - Khorugh: Investors, among which are the Aga Khan Foundation, the World Bank and the Swiss government, intend to invest over 30m dollars in the development of the [eastern Tajik] Badakhshon electric power supply system. [Varorud News] [Itar-Tass 22 Jan. 2003]
| EURO 71 MILLIONS FOR PAKISTAN OKAYED2003, january 15:ISLAMABAD - The European Commission (EC) has approved euro 71 million for Pakistan to develop a three-year National Indicative Programme (NIP) in the education sector. In the Northern Areas, an education project with the Aga Khan Foundation worth euro 20 million, is part of the NIP strategy to help increase the number of education centres and qualified women available in developmental activities. [Dawn]
| INSURANCE BUSINESS ACQUIRED2003, january 1:The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and NJI had also purchased the controlling shares of 63.4 per cent held by CGU International Insurance, PLc in Commercial Union Life Assurance Company (Pakistan) (CULAP). [Dawn]
| NUR WER MENSCHEN HILFT, DIENT GOTT2003, january 1:Interview by Erich Follath - Karim Aga Khan IV. über seine Rolle als Nachfahre des Propheten und Führer der Ismailiten. SPIEGEL: Hoheit, die Presse hat Sie "Halbgott" genannt, auch schon mal "Papst" oder "Kapitalist der Armen". Was davon trifft zu? Aga Khan: Es gibt für jeden Muslim nur einen Gott - gepriesen sei Allah -, und deshalb ist es ein schreckliches Missverständnis, sollte mich jemand für ein höheres Wesen halten. Richtig ist, dass die Investitionen in die Zukunft unserer weltweiten Gemeinde auch etwas mit den Aufgaben eines Konzernchefs zu tun haben. Und wenn Sie mein Amt mit dem des Papstes vergleichen wollen: Da gibt es Parallelen, allerdings ist mein Amt vererbbar. [Der Spiegel]
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