1987: Prince Karim Aga Khan’s visit to Chitral
Source: Ismaili.Net
Seventeen days in the month of November 1987 were days of great rejoicing for the Ismaili Jamats of Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Northern Areas and Chitral, for they had their Imam in their midst. Prince Karim Aga khan was accorded a warm welcome on 14th November 1987 when he arrived in Islamabad. He was received at the airport by the President of Pakistan, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Federal Ministers, Members of Parliament & elite of the city. Leaders of the Jamat were also present to welcome the Aga Khan.
Arrival in Chitral on 16th November 1987
The Aga Khan had first visited Chitral in 1976. During his second visit, he was given a warm welcome at Chitral Airport by the Advisor to Chief Minister NWFP, Mr. Saeed Ahmed Khan, Shahzada Mohiuddin, MNA, MPA, Officials of the district administration and leaders of the Jamat.
Aga Khan during this two days visit (16th-17th November 1987) to Chitral, met Ismailis at five places, namely Garamchashma, Susum, Shotkhar, Brep and Booni. At all these places, excellent arrangements were made and Ismailis in whatever capacity had worked day and night to make this visit a real success. Even school children gave their share of participation by climbing high mountains and beautifully inscribing words of welcome.
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An interesting sight at Garamchashma is worth mentioning. Along the one-mile road from the pendal to the place where a lunch was organized for the guest, 49 gaily decorated gates signifying the line of 49 Imams were built by the Ismailis of various villages of the area.
Visit to Aga Khan Rural Support Programmes (AKRSP) projects
Besides attending large Deedar gatherings of his followers in various places in Chitral, Prince Karim Aga Khan also visited projects of the newly-established AKSRP which was founded in 1982. The organization is intended as a catalyst to develop an innovative and replicable model for Rural Development. Its primary objective is to help improve the income-generating ability of the people by organizing small farmers into self-sustaining development organizations called Village Organizations.
On 16th November, immediately after his arrival in Chitral, Aga Khan left for Shoghor Lotkoh by helicopter. There he met representatives of 84 AKRSP village organizations of Garamchashma and Karimabad Valleys. Mawlana Hazar Imam inspected a project of AKRSP, a 1,640 feet long and 10 feet high protection bund which had contributed to the reclamation of land and doubled the land holdings of each household in Shoghor village.
On the 17th November, Prince Karim Aga Khan visited Mahting (Yarkhun) and Bumbagh where he met the representatives of village organizations of the area and inspected the irrigation channels at both these places. He deeply appreciated the work done by the people.
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Prince Karim Aga Khan was very happy with the progress made by villagers and emphasized on the importance of unity and organization. He was pleased to see village organizations managing agricultural machinery pools which included tractors and was also very happy to learn of the substantial savings made by village organizations.
“It is my hope that in the years ahead the village organizations will be able to extend their knowledge, their wisdom, their understanding of the area, to domains of endeavor, which are also important to the quality of life in the Northern Areas. And I refer to health, to education, to housing. These are all areas where Inshallah as the village organizations get stronger, they will be capable of assisting you to improve the quality of health, the quality of education, the quality of housing in the Northern areas so that future generations can benefit from a total improvement in the quality of their life”, he said.
Prince Karim Aga Khan laid the foundation of the Booni Hostel, a project of the AKES (Aga khan Education Services). He in his speech mentioned that the hostel was a mile stone in AKES activities in Chitral. The selection of the students, he said, must be on the basis of merit. Referring to the architecture of the hostel the Imam said that the building would reflect the culture of the region. He also visited the waezeen reference library at the Tariqah Board’s office in Booni.
In Susum Lotkoh, Mawlana Hazar Imam desired to see the Health Centre where he met the lady health visitors who have left their homes and comforts of city life to serve community in the North.
Stress on Education
In the students Mulaqat, both in Chitral and the Northern Areas, Prince Karim Aga Khan stressed on education being a unique opportunity which should not be treated lightly or ignored. He advised that education should not be just for the sake of education. If a degree does not help an individual in his life, his family, community and country then he is living in an ivory tower, because that degree serves no purpose.
Prince Karim Aga Khan stressed that students select courses which are useful in the Northern Areas and he outlined opportunities in agricultural development, agro-industry, service industries, tourism, banking, insurance, teaching, management and health care.
Prince Karim Aga Khan cautioned the students to be wise, intelligent and foresighted in preparing for their future. Happiness, professional satisfaction, a decent level of income and an opportunity to serve the community in Northern Areas and Chitral must be considerations in selecting careers, he said.
Prince Karim Aga Khan strongly stressed that Northern Areas and Chitral have tremendous opportunities and that students on completion of their studies must return to their homes. He was convinced that there will be further economic growth, good health conditions and a quality of life bringing happiness in the Northern Areas and Chitral.
Aga Khan’s other engagements in Chitral included meeting a delegation of leaders of sister communities and also attending a Dinner organized by the Commissioner.
He then left for Gilgit & Hunza to meet Jamats there. He was very happy with his visit and the progress the communities were making. It is evident from the note he left in visitors’ book in AKRSP Gilgit office which reads,
“I have spent here in the Northern Areas one of the most inspiring and exciting weeks of my life. Words are shallow in comparison to the depth of feeling and admiration I have for the extraordinary achievements of AKRSP, and everyone connected with it, achieved in the last five years. Centuries of poverty and despair, human conflict and division appear to be fading into the past, as new light and hope are projected onto a future which people can believe in. Yes, words do fail ..” Aga Khan IV.
For full article, visit: https://ismaili.net/news/871114.html
Posted on 11 October 2023
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