Imam visualizes new initiatives, says Ismaili Council president
ISLAMABAD: The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and other Ismaili institutions are working on a number of new community development initiatives as visualized by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan on the Diamond Jubilee of his Imamat.
This was stated by Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Pakistan President Hafiz Sher Ali at a national Diamond Jubilee Qirat competition organized by the Ismaili Tariqa and Religious Education Board (ITREB) at Serena Hotel on Saturday.
He said celebrating a jubilee of the Imamat had a particular significance as on every such occasion a new initiative was launched. He said the Diamond Jubilee of Sir Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan III, the 48th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, saw the launch of Diamond Jubilee schools in Gilgit-Baltistan that played a key role in girls education in the area.
He said goals set by Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th Imam of the Isamilis, included alleviation of poverty, finance, early childhood education, and launching of infrastructure projects such as electricity, water supply etc.
Mr Ali said after the Silver Jubilee of the Imam, Prince Karim Aga Khan, two universities were set up, including the Aga Khan University (AKU) in Karachi.
The Aga Khan also wants to promote liberal arts education and in this regard efforts are ongoing to set up a university of liberal arts in Karachi, said Mr Ali.
Besides, the University of Central Asia will be further strengthened to cover more areas in the mountainous region.
Other initiatives also include work to promote the positive outlook of Islam to the world, the face of Islam that is not being shown to the world, especially to the West.
The AKDN has been making efforts and will continue launching initiatives to further improve quality of life not only of the Ismaili community but also of all the sister communities.
Aftab Alam, Saliha Saleem and Erum Karim stood first in level one, two and three respectively. The national final was the culmination of competitions held at the regional and local level with participants divided into three categories by age.
The winners were given laptops while shields were distributed among the finalists of all levels.
Published in ChitralToday on July 1, 2018.