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I would like to begin by thanking His Majesty King Hussein for honouring us by opening our seminar. His participation clearly illustrates Jordan's concern for the evolution of Islamic architecture. I wish to welcome His Majesty most warmly, and to express our great pleasure at this opportunity to hold the fifth seminar of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Photo: His Highness the Aga Khan applauding the architect Diébédo Francis Kéré, with city planner Amanda M. Burden (centre) and humanities scholar Homi K. Bhabha (right). AKDN / Farhez Rayani

I would like to thank Mr. Barnett for his very generous comments and for the opportunity you have given to me to address this distinguished audience tonight.

In 1980, the first Aga Khan Award for Architecture will be presented. Prior to that, five seminars are to be held to discuss various criteria and categories for the Award, as well as some of the other mundane aspects of its organization. Though this is the second seminar chronologically, it is the first one to be held in a country of the Islamic world, and I therefore attach particular regard to its participants and importance to its subject matter.

In selecting the title of this address, I had in mind above all, the need for greater efficiency in professional management. The more I reflected on this subject, the more it became apparent that the themes which I wished develop were as valid for many of the richer industrial nations as for the developing world, and hold good equally for nationalised industries as for the private sector all over the world.

It gives me great pleasure to be in Oxford this evening. I am most grateful and honoured that your Society should invite me to talk about the Ismaili Community and its contribution to the Commonwealth.

Speaking as a graduate of Harvard and, I have to confess, as one who failed in English at his entrance examination, I have been warned by my British friends that I should have to tread carefully in this most venerable seat of learning.

It gives Me the greatest pleasure to be with you today on My first visit to Pakistan after having assumed My new responsibilities. I am deeply moved by the warmth of your welcome and I shall cherish the memory of your love and affection for Me on this My first visit.

I cannot begin this reply to your welcome address without expressing my gratitude to the leaders and governments of this city, of Bombay State and of all India for the kindness with which they have received me. This is a very special occasion for the Ismailis of India, and I speak for them all when I say how much I have appreciated the friendly co-operation which my community has received in the many details of preparation. I would specially like to thank His Excellency the Governor, the Chief Minister and his colleagues, the Chief Justice and the Commissioner of Police.

Honourable Minister, Dr Manji, Members of the Central and Zonal Health Boards, Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to begin today by expressing my very warm and deep gratitude to the President and government of Pakistan and the government of Sind for a most, most generous welcome to Pakistan and today to Hyderabad.

My family and I have been deeply touched by the kindness, courtesy and the welcome of the people of Hyderabad and as you know our family's association and our community's association with Sind is historic in every sense.

Honourable Minister,
Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure to be here today for a ceremony which both celebrates the Silver Jubilee of my accession to the Imamat of the Ismaili Muslim Community and underlines the service we are providing to other communities in Tanzania. I am only sorry that 'Natural Causes' have caused the demise of the ceremony at the Aga Khan Hospital itself. Nonetheless it is good news that the Hospital is being extended because the demand for its outpatient services far outstrips present cap

Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, My Lord Chief Justice, Distinguished Guests.

Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies, President Ramzan Merchant, Distinguished Guests

It is a special and very welcome occasion for me to be amongst such distinguished representatives of Government, of foreign countries and of international agencies here today: special because my family and I are deeply involved in social welfare in the widest sense and I particularly appreciate being amongst those who commit their time, resources and efforts for the benefit of mankind.

Highlights from the Speech by Hazar Imam at the Award Presentation Ceremony - Shalimar Gardens
-Within life's span, there are days of special happiness, days of pride and days of humility. This is such a day for me. It represents the culmination of a vigorous effort, hope and deep conviction that a significant change can be achieved in the environment in which Muslims live.

Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, Your Excellencies, distinguished guests

It is a great pleasure for my wife and I to be in Singapore again and to see for ourselves what tremendous developments have taken place here over the last few years. Your government, Mr. Rajaratnam, deserves congratulations for the economic miracle you have achieved, in spite of the recession in the industrialized countries.

Each time I visit Pakistan, My heart warms to growing memories and to a store house of recollections. Memories of great personal kindnesses of friendship made and renewed and above all a feeling that I am at home. I would like, therefore to thank you, Mr. President most particularly for the generous invitation, which you have extended to My wife and to Myself. We are deeply honoured to be your guests during the three day visit to Islamabad.

Faculty of Health Sciences and of The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. November 11, 1985
Your Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan; Your Highness Begum Aga Khan; Lieutenant-General Jahan Dad Khan, Governor, Sind; Mr. Justice Ghous Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sind; Mr. Shams Lakha; Honourable Ministers; Members of the Senate, National Assembly & Provincial Assemblies; Excellencies; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen:

Assalam-o-Alaikum

Faisalabad, Pakistan March 19, 1983
Your Excellency The Governor, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen, Jimmy just said that this was my first visit to Faisalabad. That is correct but it is not my first visit to Lyallpur.

I would like to say what an immense pleasure it is to be here today and to begin these few words by expressing my warmest gratitude to the authorities and the people of Faisalabad for a really wonderful welcome to my family and to me.

February 15, 1981
Your Excellency the Governor of Sind, Mayor Janab Afghani, City fathers and worthy citizens.

I would like to thank you for the wonderful reception you have accorded me on this visit to Karachi. You have said many kind words about my grandfather, about my uncle and about me. And I pray that we may be humble and continue to serve Islam.

Graduates Urged to Find Values in Encounters
(Following is the text of the Commencement Address presented by His Highness the Aga Khan at MIT's graduation exercises on Friday, May 27.)

President Vest, Members of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, distinguished members of the faculty, Mayor Reeves, happy graduates, even happier parents and others gathered here today: I am pleased and honored to be with you this morning.

December 10th, 1988, saw the foundation ceremony of the proposed NATION CENTRE by Mawlana Hazar Imam, a function which was attended by a host of senior Government officials and invited guests. Nairobi's Kimathi Street is to be the site for East Africa's largest dailies, Taifa and The Nation, and also of the Diamond Trust of Kenya Limited. Alongside these two main tenants, there will also be room for other offices, retail outlets, a coffee shop, a meeting room, and a fully equipped media centre with television broadcasting and recording as well as satellite facilities.