Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Pro-Chancellor Princess Zahra Aga Khan,
Chair Zakir Mahmood and Members of the Board of Trustees,
Chairs and members of the Kenya and Uganda University Councils,
President and Vice-Chancellor Sulaiman Shahabuddin,
Leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University,
Family members of the graduates,
Members of the Class of 2025:

The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) and Aga Khan University (AKU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the upgradation of the National Museum of Pakistan, one of the country’s principal institutions dedicated to preserving cultural, historical, and artistic heritage.

The MoU signing ceremony, held on 16 February 2026 in Karachi, formalised a collaborative framework between the two institutions aimed at strengthening the museum’s infrastructure, exhibition design, visitor engagement, and educational outreach.

Nairobi, Kenya, 13 February 2026 – Princess Zahra Aga Khan was today decorated with the national honour of Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.) by His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto, in recognition of her distinguished and outstanding services to the nation.

The Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart is among Kenya’s highest civilian honours.

Mawlana Hazar Imam commended the achievement in a message being shared via The Ismaili.

“I send my warm congratulations to Devin Wardrope for representing Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics this week in Milan Cortina. His passion for luge and dedication to training for over a decade is commendable and shows that when a young person works hard anything is possible. Devin’s achievements are a source of pride for our Jamat, and an inspiration to us all. Bravo to Devin and his luge partner Cole Zajanski for their excellent performance.”

DAR ES SALAAM: The Aga Khan has reaffirmed plans to continue investing in Tanzania.

This was disclosed in a conversation between the highest leader of Agha Khan, Princess Zahra and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Ngwaru J. Maghembe, during her working visit to the country from February 8–14, 2026.

As I complete the first year of my Imamat, I have been deeply touched by the warm messages of congratulations received from around the world.

I convey my heartfelt thanks to the numerous world leaders and partners of the Ismaili Imamat and our institutions who have welcomed me during the past year. Their enduring friendship is a source of happiness and pride.

His Majesty King Charles III hosted a dinner at Windsor Castle in honour of Mowlana Hazar Imam, celebrating the first anniversary of Hazar Imam's accession to the Ismaili Imamat. Earlier also, Hazar Imam met with Prince William at Kensington Palace, concluding His visit to the United Kingdom.

Earlier Hazar Imam graced the United Kingdom Jamat with Holy Didar as the 50th Imam.

Hazar Imam also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ismaili Imamat and the United Kingdom government.

Hazar Imam and His entire family was also hosted to a dinner by His Majesty King Charles III.

Doha, Qatar, 2 February 2026 – The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), presents Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan, an exhibition exploring the country’s rich history, art and architectural heritage. On view from 2 February to 30 May 2026 at MIA, it highlights Afghanistan’s role as a crossroad of cultures, ideas, religions and people.

United Nations health agencies, in partnership with Aga Khan University (AKU), have agreed to align institutional priorities to support African-driven health system transformation.

The commitment was made at a high-level meeting held ahead of the World Health Summit Regional Meeting (WHSRM), where stakeholders reviewed strategies for strengthening sustainable, locally driven health systems across Africa.

With a rating of 130, the Aga Khan Studs homebred
Calandagan has been crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse
for 2025, ahead of five horses from four different countries who
all tied for second on a rating of 128.

At a ceremony to mark the Longines Racing Awards at the
Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday, it was confirmed that the
performance of Calandagan when winning October's G1
Champion Stakes at Ascot was the best produced by any
racehorse on the planet last year. The son of Gleneagles B who
also struck at the top level in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King

Aga Khan University Hospital has invested KSh 1.6 billion investment in artificial intelligence and advanced medical technology. The move signals a bold expansion from specialist referral services into secondary care, providing faster and more accessible diagnostics to a broader range of patients.

Our Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan,

Chair Zakir Mahmood and Members of the Board of Trustees,

President Sulaiman Shahabuddin,

AKU leaders, faculty, and staff,

Donors, partners, alumni, volunteers,

Family members of the graduates,

And, most importantly, the Class of 2025:

As Salaam–o-Alaikum

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Pro-Chancellor Princess Zahra Aga Khan,
Chair Zakir Mahmood and Members of the Board of Trustees,
Chairs and members of the Kenya and Uganda University Councils,
President and Vice-Chancellor Sulaiman Shahabuddin,
Leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University,
Family members of the graduates,
Members of the Class of 2025:

Princess Zahra Aga Khan was formally installed as the Aga Khan University's (AKU) first Pro-Chancellor on Saturday as the institution graduated 461 students from 18 degree programmes at its 38th convocation in Pakistan.

As Pro-Chancellor, Princess Zahra will guide AKU in its continuing efforts to improve quality of life across the country.

Damascus, Jan. 6 (SANA) The Syrian Ministry of Economy and Industry signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday with the Aga Khan Development Network aimed at developing the industrial sector and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors in Syria.

Speech by Princess Zahra Aga Khan at the 2025 AKU convocation
26 February, 2025
Karachi, Pakistan

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Chancellor, Chair and members of the AKU Board of Trustees,
President and Vice Chancellor,
Leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the University,
Family members of the graduates,
And Members of the Class of 2024:

As Salaam–o-Alaikum

Speech by His Highness The Aga Khan IV

Toronto April 27, 1983

(at the banquet with Ontario political government leaders including Premier William Davis)

Your Honour, Honourable Premier, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure for my wife and I to be here this evening. And we are most grateful to you, Mr. Davis, and to you, Mr. McLaren, both for your welcome and for your appreciative remarks about the Ismaili community in Canada.

Speech by His Highness The Aga Khan IV at McMaster University, Canada

(His Highness The Aga Khan was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LLD) honoris causa in recognition of his leadership in the advancement of health and education in the third world)

May 15, 1987

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

……………..The great bulk of the 7 million people of Karachi and the 100 million people of Pakistan are not ruled by the assumptions of science. Their lives are bounded by family, tradition, and belief

James Evans explores the Aga Khan’s lifelong obsession with speed: the yachts it created, the records it broke and the technical advances it generated - especially in his parallel quest for silence.

Whatever the means of travel, the late Aga Khan – His Highness Karim al-Hussaini – yearned to go fast. Racehorses, sports cars, yachts: he owned and loved them all. A Maserati 5000 GT made for him in the 1950s was, for a time, the fastest road car in the world. It was certainly an appropriate form of transport.

On 3 December, Mawlana Hazar Imam granted a didar for the Jamats of Portugal and Spain.

The Mukhi of Darkhana submitted bayʿa to the Imam on behalf of the Jamat, and President of the Ismaili Council Yasmin Bhudarally delivered a loyalty address.

In his Farman, Mawlana Hazar Imam said that he was sorry to hear about the President of Portugal’s ill-health, and extended best wishes for a speedy recovery on behalf of his family and the Jamat.