2017-10-18

The Heritage Society
Timeline 2017


2017, December 15th - The Aga Khan University’s Centre for Innovation in Medical Education (CIME), a state-of-the-art facility for technology-based learning for health professionals, was inaugurated today by His Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of AKU. The 80,000-square foot, Rs. 1.6 billion ($15 million), donor-funded Centre comprises three buildings – the Mariyam Bashir Dawood Building, the Ibn Sina Building and the Shiraz Boghani Building. The Centre offers multi-purpose teaching spaces, high-fidelity simulators, and specialty environments such as the phantom-head dental lab, a cardiac catheterisation lab and telemedicine clinics. [More]

2017, December 14th - KARACHI: The spiritual leader of Shia Imami Ismaili community Prince Karim Aga Khan arrived in the city on Thursday and was received at the airport by both the Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. [More]

2017, December 12 and 14th - H.H. The Aga Khan will be meeting with this community for religious work in Islamabad before traveling to Karachi. On 13th, Mowlana Hazar Imam will be celebrating his 81st Birthday.

2017, December 10 - AliabadH.H. The Aga Khan continues his tour to meet his community - Today Mowlana Hazar Imam gave two didars: one in Taus, Yasin District and other in Aliabad, Hunza. about 140 000 Murids were expected in Taus. [More here]

2017, December 09 DIDAR MUBARAK! BOONI: The Aga Khan blessed his followers with Darbar and Didar today at Booni Chitral. According to ChitralToday In his Darbar speech at Booni, the Aga Khan stressed his followers to live “within the ethics of Islam” and to remain “honest” in their day today affairs. He also emphasized unity among “families” and to “educate” the young generation in an effective way. By terming education a “lifelong learning process”, he stressed on acquiring education as a continuous and ongoing process. [More here! ]

2017, December 9: Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, will visit Gilgit-Baltistan today (Saturday). He is on a 13-day visit to Pakistan on the invitation of the Government of Pakistan. He will meet his followers on December 9 in Chitral and December 10 in Gilgit-Baltistan, after which he will visit Karachi from December 14 to 19. Prince Karaim Agha Khan will reach Gilgit on today from where he will fly to Chitral to meet thousands of his followers. To see a glimpse of their Imam, thousands of Ismailis will gather in Chitral, Ghizar and Aliabad, Hunza. News, dates, updates, LIF anouncements, timetables, More here

2017, December 7 - Mubarak! H.H. The Aga Khan arrived in Pakistan. Mowlana Hazar Imam was welcomed at the Islamabad airport by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and other government dignitaries on arrival. The Imam of the Ismailis is on official visit, invited by President Mamnoon Hussain and will be meeting his community in Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Islamabad and Karachi as part of his Diamond Jubilee. (Photo from Pamir Times) Updates here!]

2017, November 29: Prince Amyn arrived in Goma for an AKDN related visit. An agreement of April 2017 provides for AKDN and its partners to invest US$140m and mobilise project funding of US$1bn for new power projects including the 147MW Ruzizi III project in the Great Lakes region (Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC). The Ruzizi project is expected to double Burundi’s current capacity, increase Rwanda’s capacity by 26% and provide much needed baseload power in Eastern DRC a region that is otherwise isolated from DRC’s interconnected grid. It will also reduce reliance on thermal (fossil fuel based) generation in these countries. Besides developing regional and national power projects, both IPS and CDC intend to partner on mini and off-grid projects that will directly provide reliable and affordable electricity to rural populations away from regional and national grids. [More news and photos here!]

2017-11-28: Swearing Ceremony of President Uhuru Kenyata: Among the dignitaries was Prince Amyn Aga Khan, who represented His Highness the Aga Khan. Prince Amyn is His Highness the Aga Khan’s personal representative to Kenya and is also in the country for meetings of the Tourism Promotion Services, which operates the Serena Group of hotels, lodges and resorts.

2017-11-24 Friday - Prince Rahim Aga Khan was in attendance at the event celebrating 40 years anniversary of the Institute of Ismaili studies. More here!]



2017, November 17-21 Toronto Didars and Montreal Didar. - H.H. The Aga Khan, Imam-e-Zaman of Ismailis meet his Community in Eastern Canada and completed religious works again 25 years after a similar 1992 visit to Canada. He will leave Montreal on 22nd November 2017. The longer Canada wide official visit for Diamond Jubilee will happen in 2018. [More place, event, dates, updates Here!]



2017, November 15: Ceremony for the Global Centre for Pluralism Award receipients - Kenya's Alice Nderitu was distinguished by former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark as "peacemaker, conflict mediator and gender equality advocate per excellence". Here are the news, links and photos of the receipients of the award. [More]

2017-11-14 - Ottawa, Canada - H.H. The AgaKhan arrived this afternoon in Ottawa to attend tomorrow's Award ceremony at Center for Pluralism and to complete other AKDN works. The Imam of the Ismailis will also meet his community in Toronto from 17th to 20 November and in Montreal on 21st November. [Follow here!]

2017, November 6: The inaugural meeting of the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) Board of Trustees was held on 6 November 2017 in Gouvieux, France. His Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of UCA, welcomed the Founding Trustees and urged them “to make research one of the highest priorities of the University. Only through the creation of new knowledge will we be able to address the multiple challenges that affect the quality of life of mountain societies. Over time, it is high quality and relevant research which will earn UCA a place among the renowned universities of the world.” He added that the stewardship of UCA was now in the hands of the Board of Trustees. Among the items discussed at the meeting were current programmes and future initiatives of the University. [More News and Photo]

2017, November 1st: New York, USA - H.H. The Aga khan receives the Asia Game changer Lifetime Achievement Awards. His brother Prince Amyn attended the event and was as happy as was Mowlana Hazar Imam. The two brothers have been so close that they have been compared often to two historical brothers: Lord Rama and his brother Lakshman [More news, photos and videos]

2017, October 20 Toronto, Canada - Marigold Gala Fundraising Campaign for SOS Children Villages with Princess Salimah Aga Khan, mother of Prince Rahim, Princess Zahra and Prince Hussain. [More]

2017, October 18 - H.H. The Aga Khan received the 2017 Global Leadership Award from United Nations Foundation on 18 October 2017. The Award recognizes the highest levels of the diplomatic, business, government, philanthropic, media, entertainment, and social sectors - [More news, pics and video]

2017, October 12 Dar es Salaam Diamond Jubilee Darbar subsequent to Kampala Darbar. October 12 is also the Birthday of Prince Rahim. The whole Tanzania and INternational Jamat present in Dar es Salaam for the grand Diamond Jubilee Darbar, went to the airport on 11 October 2017 to welcome the arrival of H.H. The Aga Khan. Mowlana Hazar Imam gave Didar inside the Diamond Jubilee Hall to the some of the Jamat and in the street to the others.[More]

2017, October 11: H.H. Karim Aga Khan arriving in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Mowlana Hazar Imam is visiting Tanzania to celebrate his Diamond Jubilee. Murids from the International Jamat have joined, many whose family has had have deep roots in Tanzania for a Century, many also who were born there but moved to other parts of the world.

2017, October 11: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - H.H. The Aga Khan was welcomed by thousands of people at the airport. He was received by Minister for Defense Hon.Hussein Mwinyi , RC Dsm region Paul Makonda, Kwimba MP Hon. Shaneef Hirani & Spouse Shagufa Mama, Hon Shamim khan, Resident Representative of AKDN Tanzania Amin Kurji and President of Agakhan National Council for Tanzania Amin Lakhani. [More]

2017, October 10: Mowlana Hazar Imam meet his Jamat in Kampala, Uganda for Darbar at 4pm. On his way to the Darbar Hall, He opened the window of his car and waved and blessed the International Jamat standing in the road. [More]

2017, October 10: Pamir Times - Gilgit: Prince Aly Muhammad, the youngest son of Prince Karim Aga Khan, the hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, has reached Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan on Tuesday morning. During his stay in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, Prince Aly Muhammad, is expected to visit various AKDN projects in the Ghizer and Hunza districts. Today, Prince Aly Muhammad visited a health center operated by the Aga Khan Health Service, and a school run by the Aga Khan Education Service in Yasin Valley of District Ghizer. According to an official release, the visit will enhance the young prince’s ‘understanding of issues related to the built environment, natural hazard mitigation, health, education, culture, and rural development—all areas in which the AKDN with its partners are actively engaged to improve the quality of life. [More]

2017, October 9: - President Museveni decorated H.H. The Aga Khan at Uganda’s 55th Independence Anniversary. H.H. The Aga Khan to receive in Uganda the Order of the Pearl of Africa Medal. The 'Most Excellent Order of Pearl of Africa, Grandmaster' was awarded in recognition of H.H. The Aga Khans' work & contribution to Uganda’s development. The occasion’s special guest, His Highness the Aga Khan, thanked President Museveni for his invitation and award. “I am honored to celebrate the occasion of the 55th independence anniversary with you. It was inspiring to watch the National Guard marching. Although my community is small in East Africa, it is my hope that they will participate in improving the lives of Ugandans in all works of life,” he said. [News, Photos and links] [Full coverage Video]

2017, October 8th - H.H. The Aga Khan welcomed in Kampala, Uganda by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. [Video]

2017. October 8: Chitral News reports that "Aga Khan demands urgent action to restore man-nature balance" - The Interview of Princess Zahra is in Italian. [Interview] [More]

2017, October 7: Prince Amyn Aga Khan, brother of H.H. The Aga Khan, Imam of the Ismailis, attended the wedding of Prince Philip of Serbia with Danica Marinkovic [Photo]

2017, September 30 - Chantilly, Paris, France - H.H. The Aga Khan interviewed after the win by Vazirabad at Chantilly in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe - Hazar Imam attends the 2017 Qatar Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly Hippodrome. Click for more photos

2017, September 28th and 29th: Prince Amyn Aga Khan arrived in Toronto this Wednesday 27th October 2017 and is expected to attend the celebration for the 3 years anniversary of the opening of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. So far he has made 2 speeches, one at the breakfast on 28th September morning and the second at Gala Diner the same day.

2017, October - According to Chitral Today, H.H. The Aga Khan is expected to visit Chitral in Pakistan early next month.More

2017, September 10, Chantilly, France - Friends of the Domaine de Chantilly (FODC) hosted a memorable day at Chantilly, one of the most magnificent French heritage sites, located just 25 miles north of Paris. Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Chairman of FODC, welcomed guests upon their arrival and spoke at length about Chantilly’s rich history, unrivaled art collection, and beautiful gardens before leading everyone into the castle. Among those in attendance were FODC Directors and advisors Nathalie Brunel, Betty Eveillard, Maryvonne Pinault, and Ann Nitze, as well as more than 60 of the most prominent art collectors, garden lovers, and Francophiles from both sides of the Atlantic. [More photos and news here!]

2017, August 7, New Interview of Princess Zahra Aga Khan. "Many members are aware of the planet's change. There is a clear change: yesterday in Cagliari there were 51 degrees and in Dubai last week were 55. We all know that we are facing a process of continuous degradation. Maybe we can do something." [Read interview here!]

2017, July 31 - Prince Amyn Aga Khan at the AKU in Karachi, Pakistan.[More photos here!] [Video]

2017, July 20: Universidade NOVA de Lisboa honoured His Highness Prince Aga Khan with the Honoris Causa Doctorate. The event was held on 20 July in Lisbon time at the Rectorate of NOVA and was attended by the President of the Portuguese Republic who co-chaired the ceremony. Later that day, The Aga Khan received one of Portugal’s highest honours – the Grand cruz da ordem de Liberdade, or Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty – in recognition of his service to uplifting lives around the world. Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa bestowed the Aga Khan, Imam of Ismailis, with this honour during a ceremony held at Lisbon’s Belem Palace.[More]

2017, July 19: H.H. The Aga Khan has arrived in Portugal this Wednesday 19 July 2017. At the airport, he was welcomed by a Guard of Honour. On Thursday 2pm Lisbon time (9am Toronto time), he will receive an Honorary Doctorate from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. [More]



2017, July 11: Ismailis to celebrate 60 years of the Aga Khan's leadership in July - Prince Karim the Aga Khan IV inherited many important things from his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah the Aga Khan III, including longevity and the title of Imam or the spiritual head of the 15 million strong worldwide community of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. As a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad, Aga Khan IV is the 49th hereditary leader of the Ismaili Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam. Today, there are officially about 15 million Ismailis who are spread around the world. He is treated like a head of state with direct access to presidents and prime ministers. But he holds onto a tradition of political neutrality. Prince Karim was born in Geneva in 1936 and brought up in Kenya before attending boarding school in Switzerland and Harvard University. In 1957, during his undergraduate studies he became the Aga Khan. Suddenly he was thrust onto the world stage at the age of 20. Since then he has crossed the globe many times over. Though he carries a British passport and is based north of Paris, he is truly a global citizen. Read here all the articles in newspapers in preparation for the Diamond Jubilee [Many more news articles - Click here!]

June 15, 2017 - H.H. The Aga Khan is to be awarded the Honorary Citizenship of Kampala Award in recognition of the role of his foundation to the development of Uganda's capital city. The Award will be received by the Aga Khan Foundation during celebrations to mark the 60 anniversary of Prince Karim Agha Khan's ascension to the Ismaili Imamat throne. The foundation's engagement in Uganda spans more than 70 years. The foundations portfolio includes investments in businesses, education, media, health, hotels and power generation. "His Highness the Agha Khan has done a lot of things for Uganda but also Kampala. Am sure you are aware that there’s actually the construction of the Aga Khan hospital and training centre here in Kampala. The things that Aga Khan is doing depict him as having made huge community contributions", Kauju added. Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), the infrastructure and industrial development arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development owns the 250MW Bujagali Hydro power plant constructed at a cost of nearly $900 million. The foundation is also building a $100 million hospital in Nakawa division, Kampala. [More]

2017, June 9 - Mombasa, Kenya - First Lady: Latest heart complication technology to save thousands - State of the Art Cath Lab. The latest technology on cardiac complications is now locally available and Kenyans with heart problems can seek intervention without the need to travel abroad. Princess Zahra said the presence of the First Lady at the ceremony demonstrated the strong and important partnership between the Government and the AKDN. She said besides training of health professionals, the Aga Khan Health Services provided health care to over 1 million Kenyans last year. Princess Zahra said the Cardiology Program is an important step by the Aga Khan Health Services and a similar program is planned for Kisumu City. She however underlined the need for sustainability, capacity building and continued partnership with the government for the program to successfully continue saving lives. [MORE Photos and news]

2017, June 8 - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, Acting Director of Curative Services at the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children today jointly opened a new state-of-the-art laboratory and a low cost inpatient unit at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam. [More]

2017, May 2017 H.H. The Aga Khan receives President’s Medal from Architectural League of New York. The Architectural League is recognizing His Highness the Aga Khan on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Aga Khan Award in Architecture, which celebrates achievements in architecture and urbanism that serve an Islamic population anywhere in the world; spotlights issues of sustainability, quality of life, local craft and building traditions; and helps to preserve and develop public spaces, buildings, and landscapes of great cultural and civic importance. A commitment to pluralism suffuses the work of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, along with other programs of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and Aga Khan Development Network, of which it is a part. “Pluralism,” the Aga Khan has said, “results when people decide to value and understand human differences through mutual respect and civic inclusion.” He has written that “In the troubled times in which we live, it is important to remember, and honor, a vision of a pluralistic society. Tolerance, openness and understanding towards other peoples’ cultures, social structures, values and faiths are now essential to the very survival of an interdependent world. Pluralism is no longer simply an asset or a prerequisite for progress and development, it is vital to our existence.” [More news and photos]

2017, May 16: H.H. The Aga Khan attended at 10:30am on 16th May the opening of the new HQ of the Global Center of Pluralism. "Let me emphasize a point about the concept of pluralism that is sometimes misunderstood. Connection does not necessarily mean agreement. It does not mean that we want to eliminate our differences or erase our distinctions. Far from it. What it does mean is that we connect with one another in order to learn from one another, and to build our future together. Pluralism does not mean the elimination of difference, but the embrace of difference. Genuine pluralism understands that diversity does not weaken a society, it strengthens it. In an ever-shrinking, ever more diverse world, a genuine sense of pluralism is the indispensable foundation for human peace and progress. From the start, this has been a vision that the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Canada have deeply shared." [More News and Photos] [Speech]

2017, May 16: H.H. The Aga Khan will attend at 10:30am on 16th May the opening of the new HQ of the Global Center of Pluralism..[News and pics]

2017, May 11 Prince Amyn Aga Khan Speech at this 11 May 2017 at Traces of Words: Art and Calligraphy from Asia exhibition at The UBC Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, has been recorded and will be posted online in the comming days[More]

2017, April 25: Princess Zahra Aga Khan was met at the Khorog airport by GBAO governor Shodikhon Jamshed, senior representatives of the Khorog mayor’s office and other regional administrators. While in Gorno Badakhshan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan has reportedly visited a number of programs and projects of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the region. Yesterday, she, in particular, visited the Langar area in the Ishakshim district. Today, Princess Zahra Aga Khan is visiting the Gudara area in the Rushan district and the Khidorjev area in the Roshtqala district. She is also scheduled to meet the GBAO regional administrators and representatives of the AKDN programs in the region. Recall, Princess Zahra Aga Khan arrived in Dushanbe Monday evening for a three-day working visit. [Click for More]

2017, April 24: Kabul, Afghanistan - Princess Zahra Aga Khan met with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani today and reaffirmed continued support to the AKDN in Afghanistan. She made a Speech at the opening of the 141 Beds Hospital in Bamyan. The construction of the new facility was funded by the Government of Canada (US $17 million), the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (US $3.2 million) and the Government of France (US $2.3 million). The hospital’s operations continue to be principally funded by the Aga Khan Health Services; since 2004, this funding has amounted to over US $15 million. “I know that all of you share Canada’s deep belief that access to quality health care for all the citizens of this vast country of Afghanistan is one of the most important building blocks for a better future,” said Canadian Ambassador His Excellency Kenneth Neufeld. “We can see here in front of us a model of quality sustainable health care which can reach offer first-class health solutions to remote areas and under-served segments of the population. I know too that you share Canada’s deep commitment to ensuring that the rights of women and children to equal access to health care are achieved. “ [Click for More Photos, News and Speech]

2017, April 19: H.H. The Aga Khan arrived in Russia at 19:30 for 2 days. He met with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow to discuss with AKDN related projects in Syria, Afghanistan and Central Asia. [More news and Video here!]

2017, April 8: Edmonton, Canada - North America’s largest Islamic-inspired garden is to be built in Alberta, a $25-million gift from the Aga Khan that is expected to attract up to 160,000 visitors a year. read more - click here!

2017, February 20: The Aga Khan foundation has trained over 1,000 headteachers of nursery and primary schools from Lindi and Mtwara regions through its project that seeks to improve education in the East Africa Regions (AKU-IED, EA). More

2017, January 15: Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa - Signing of an agreement between Aga Khan Health Services Kenya and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) on Friday to expand and upgrade Kisumu and Mombasa Aga Khan Hospitals. Under the agreement, Kisumu Aga Khan Hospital will over the next five years expand to a 90-bed facility from the current 61 beds. More here

2017, January 2 - Birth of Prince Sinan, the second child of Princess Salwa and Prince Rahim Aga Khan. Send your Congratulations HERE!





Previous Next
Timeline Main Page Back To Heritage