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

Speech by His Highness Shah Karim Aga Khan at the Dinner hosted by H.E. Governor of Punjab

Lahore, Pakistan

March 3, 1976

Your Excellency the Governor, Mr. Chief Minister, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like to thank you most warmly for having extended so many kindnesses to my wife and Me. Many people have said to me why is it that your wife isn’t with you and I have tried to explain that in something under five years, we have had three children and that on any family does pose a certain strain and I did not feel that it is appropriate that she should be required to be with me all the time when she has three young children to look after.

In recent years, the community which I lead has had to face problems in many parts of the world. Few countries have been so closely associated, have represented so much as Pakistan has, to my family. And coming back to Pakistan after some years, it is frankly, an exhilarating experience to find a country which is determined to move positively towards a clearly established goal, and to feel that everyone is seeking to overcome the problems rather than to increase them.

Unfortunately, in other areas in which I am involved, I have found in recent years, considerable negativism. And I find it very disheartening, very discouraging. So believe me, both for personal reasons as well as for reasons for the office which I hold, it is a wonderful experience to be back in Pakistan again.

I sincerely would like to thank you for your courtesy and to say what My grandfather and father certainly have said often before Me, that the Ismailis in Pakistan will, of course do their part, and I hope, a little bit more than their part, in contributing to the development of this great Muslim country.

Thank you