Aga Khan IV - Timeline - 1970
January 1970 was the start of a significant tour in Pakistan. It was also the launching year of the Aga Khan Programme for Islamic Architecture.
January 15, 1970: Mowlana Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah visited Pakistan. They were
received by General Mohammad Yahya Khan at the Presidential Palace where Mowlana Hazar
Imam was awarded the Nishan-I-Imitiaz. Later in the evening the President hosted a dinner for
them. (speech)
January 16, 1970: Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah gave a banquet in honour of President Yahya
Khan at the Hotel Intercontinental, Rawalpindi
January 18, 1970 Made a speech in Islamabad.
January 19, 1970: Visited Lahore where they were received by, among others, the West Pakistan
Governor, Air Marshal Noor Khan and his wife. During the three-day stay, His Highness paid
flying visits to Sargodha and Multan.
January 21, 1970: Back in Lahore, Mowlana Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah were given a
reception by Anjuman-e-Himayate Islam.
January 22, 1970: Left for a tour of East Pakistan. Arrived at Jessore Airport in afternoon and
later left by car for Khulna.
January 23, 1970: Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah attended a luncheon hosted by the People's
Jute Mills Club, Khulna. (click here)
January 25, 1970: Given a rousing welcome when they flew into Dacca from Khulna.
January 26, 1970: Begum Salimah laid the foundation stone of a block of flats at Hasanabad in
Dacca.
January 26, 1970: Hazar Imam attended a luncheon in his honour hosted by the Pakistan Jute
Mills Association in Dacca. The president of PJMA welcomed Hazar Imam.. Hazar Imam replied to the warm welcome in his speech on that occasion.
January 28, 1970: Mowlana Hazar Imam and Salimah attended a reception organised by
the Supreme Council for East Pakistan.
January 29, 1970: Hazar Imam visited the I.P.S. offices, Hazar Imam spoke of bright possibilities
for tourism in the country.
January 29, 1970: Mowlana Hazar Imam was interviewed by a Morning News reporter at
Chittagong.
January 30, 1970: Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah flew back to Karachi where Hazar Imam said in a speech "Pakistan must take a giant step...".
January 31, 1970: Hazar Imam visited Ismaili gatherings at the three main centres in Karachi, at
Kharadhar, Garden and Karimabad. Also visited the Mazar of Quaid-e-Azam Mohamed Ali
Jinnah, the Father of Pakistan, to offer Fateha and lay a floral tribute. In the evening, Hazar Imam
and Begum Salimah were guests of honour at a reception given by Vazier Amir Ali Fancy.
February 1970: Pakistan army paid Hazar Imam the signal honour of making him Honorary
Colonel of the 6th Lancers.
February 1, 1970: Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah began their program of personally inspecting
Ismaili education and social institutions by visiting the Aga Khan III School (Sultan Mohammed
Shah Foundation School) at Karimabad where Hazar Imam made an extempore speech.
February 2, 1970: They were guests of honour at a luncheon given by the Director of the Pakistan
Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation.
February 3, 1970: Hyderabad laid on a red carpet welcome for Mowlana Hazar Imam and Begum
Salimah when they flew in from Karachi. Morning was spent at the Ismaili Centre. Hazar Imam
and Begum Salimah lunched with the Commissioner. Begum Salimah and the Commissioner's
wife, Begum Nusrat Hassan, visited APWA School and Industrial Home.
February 5, 1970: Begum Salimah spoke at the Baby Show arranged by the Aga Khan Health
Centre, Hyderabad
February 6, 1970: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on Hazar
Imam by Sind University, Jamshoro at a Special Convocation. In his citation, Al-Haj
Sayid Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Vice-Chancellor of the University said; "In a short span of 12 years
as Imam, His Royal Highness has shown that he is endowed with wisdom, versatility, sagacity and
statesmanship which are characteristic of his noble and great family. In the fast-changing and
kaleidoscopic conditions on the continents of Asia and Africa, His Royal Highness has not only
guided the socio-economic activities of his own followers, but has also rendered immense material
assistance in the economic development of new and young nations and thereby advanced the well-being, prosperity and stability of the people of those countries."
February 7, 1970: Mowlana Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah visited Jamatkhanas, schools and
hospitals. They had returned to Karachi the previous day from Hyderabad.
February 8, 1970: Mowlana Hazar Imam spoke to Ismailis at the Darkhana and Garden
Jamatkhanas. Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah visited Prince Aly Khan Boys' Academy to
perform its opening ceremony. Hazar Imam said; "The Ismailia Youth Services have provided a
magnificent example which I hope will be followed, not only by my Jamat in Pakistan, but also by
my Jamat in other parts of the world."
February 8, 1970: Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah were Guests at a Dinner hosted by the
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Hotel Intercontinental, Karachi.The president of the Chamber of Commerce pronouced a welcome speech on that occasion.
February 9, 1970: Hazar Imam addressed teachers of Ismaili educational institutions at the Aga
Khan Gymkhana School. Later in the day, Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah attended a mammoth
civic reception given for them by the citizens of Karachi at the Bagh-e-Jinnah.
February 9, 1970: Hazar Imam addressed the Education Board in the Pandal.
February 10, 1970: Begum Salimah with 12,000 spectators, watched a spectacular physical
education display by students of Aga Khan schools at the Hockey Stadium. At the end, she
announced the award of the Aga Khan Trophy to be presented annually to the school giving the
best physical education display.
February 13, 1970: Begum Salimah was entertained to a mass display of variety of items
performed by various units of the Aga Khan forces at the Police Grounds.
February 13, 1970: Hazar Imam spoke as chief guest", at a luncheon in their
honour hosted by the RCD Chamber of Commerce, following the address by the president of the RCD.
February 14, 1970: Begum Salimah visited Ismailia socio-welfare institutions in Karachi, amongst
them the Day Nursery and Dispensary run by the Karimabad Health Centre and the Primary
School and Cottage Industries Centre of the Ismailia Women's Association. Hazar Imam and
Begum Salimah were guests of honour at the luncheon reception organised by R.C.D. Chamber of
Commerce.
February 15, 1970: Early morning was spent at Garden Jamatkhana by Hazar Imam. He later
drove to the Mahendi Convalescence Home - the birthplace of Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah.
In the afternoon, Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah attended a Grand Durbar at the Aga Khan
Gymkhana grounds.
In the evening, Hazar Imam invited leading newspaper editors and reporters of Pakistan for an
informal gathering. A Press Conference was held at Vazir Amirali Fancy's residence.
February 16, 1970: Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah left for Paris.
February 16, 1970: Ceremony held in Nairobi, Kenya.
September 18, 1970: Birth of Princess Zahra in Geneva, Switzerland. (click here)
November 10, 1970: Hazar Imam arrived at Dar es Salaam Airport in his personal Grumman
executive jet to a rousing welcome from the Jamat. Prince Amyn, who had arrived the day before,
was also present to hug and welcome Hazar Imam.
November 12, 1970: Thursday 5:00 P.M. Mowlana Hazar Imam witnessed the opening of I.P.S.
in Dar es Salaam , Tanzania. Mr. George Kahama, General manager of the National Development
Corporation of Tanzania said in his address; "His Highness The Aga Khan has always taught and urged the
members of the Ismaili community to be loyal and true citizens to the country in which they may
live."
November 1970: Hazar Imam gave an interview to Mansoor Ladha, sub-editor of the Standard
Tanzania newspaper, under the title "Islam - The Most Multi-Racial Faith"
December 1970: Hazar Imam visited Kenya for 5 days.
PHOTO ALBUM 1970 
7000641v 7000893p 7000941v 7001345v 7001346l 7001347v 7001348v 7001349j 7001350j 7001368t 7001369t 7001394p 7001405l 7001406l 7001407v 7001409p 7001410j 7001411v 7001412t 7001413v 7001414v 7001416v 7001743m 7001744p 7001745v 7001746o 7001747v 7001781v 7001782v 7001783v 7001784v 7001785v 7001786v 7001787v 7001788v 7001789o 7001938p 7001939v 7002408j 7002631o 7002632j 7011848n 7011849l 7011850v
Previous 
Timeline Main Page