Aga Khan assures full support in re-building
PM lauds AKDN’s role in Pak socio-economic uplift
Bureau Report

MUZAFFARABAD—His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Monday reiterated his commitment to continuing all possible assistance for the October earthquake victims in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process. Addressing the quake-affected people here Prince Karim Aga Khan expressed solidarity and deep sympathy with the disaster victims.
On arrival he was received by the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, acting AJK Prime Minister Raja Abdul Qayyum Khan, Corps Commander Rawalpindi Lt Gen Salahuddin Satti and other senior officials here the helipad. The Prince visited the tent village Thouri and spoke to the quake affected people.
He said this is the time to help the quake sufferers and share their hardship. He called upon the victims to face the ordeal with courage and expressed the confidence that the nation would overcome the aftermath of the natural disaster. He stressed the need for using the latest technology in the reconstruction work in order to build quake-resistant houses and buildings after seismic surveys.
Later, talking to the media, the Prince said he would do whatever he could to help rehabilitation and reconstruction so that normal life was restored in the affected areas.
He said that small loans would be provided to the quake affected people to restart their business activities.
For the promotion of health, eduction and agriculture sectors, institutions on sustainable basis would be established to achieve the objectives of socio economic development, he said.
Earlier the General Officer Commending Maj Gen Khalid Nawaz briefed the distinguished guest about the earthquake devastation and the relief and rehabilitation efforts. He gave an overview of Pakistan Army’s ongoing relief activities in collaboration with domestic and foreign aid agencies.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday lauded the contribution of Aga Khan Development Network in the country’s socio-economic uplift and its support in the relief and rehabilitation efforts to help the people devastated by October 8 earthquake.
He was speaking here at a banquet, he hosted in the honour of Prince Karim Aga Khan here on Monday. The Prime Minister said every Pakistani appreciates the breadth and depth of his feelings for the country.
“Your presence here is a source of strength for us,” the Prime Minister said. The two leaders earlier held one-on-one meeting and were later joined by their respective delegations and discussed matters of mutual interest with reference to the ongoing activities of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Pakistan.
Besides working in education and health sector, the Aga Khan Foundation has also been working for the uplift of the people in the rural areas. Under a new initiative, the AKDN will provide over 300 million dollars for the University of Arts and Sciences in the Education city in Karachi, for which the Sindh government under the directive of the Prime Minister, has provided 1000 acre of land.