The News International,
Pakistan Tuesday September 02, 2003
Rajab 04, 1424 A.H.

Ismaili centre opened in Dushanbe

DUSHANBE: The Aga Khan, billionaire spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect of Islam on Saturday attended with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov a ceremony laying the foundations of Central Asia’s first Ismaili centre in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe. Prince Karim Aga Khan is funding the construction of the religious and cultural centre. He will also finance the construction of a five star hotel in Dushanbe, Rakhmonov said. There are 15 million Ismaili Muslims throughout the world, including some 200,000 in Tajikistan.