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Spiritual head of Ismaili sect and Chief of Aga Khan Foundation Prince Karim Aga Khan arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday night on his visit to Pakistan. Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpa as well as other senior officers welcomed him at the airport.Amid tight security the Prince was escorted to President's House where he would stay tonight.
He would meet Prime Minister Mir Zaffarullah Khan Jamali on Wednesday (today).

His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, Spiritual Leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, President General Pervez Musharraf & Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali standing solemn silent in the respect of National Anthem at a reception, hosted by President in the honour of Prince at President House.ISLAMABAD - The spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, Prince Karim Aga Khan held separate meetings with President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali here on Wednesday.

His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan has stated that Pakistan represents an attractive destination for investment and Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development intends to expand its operations in financial services, telecommunications and tourism business.
This was stated by the distinguish guest during his meeting with Finance Minister, Shaukat Aziz here on Wednesday. He stated that Pakistan has tremendous potential as a Tourist destination particularly in the Northern Areas as well as along the coast line around Gawadar and these should be developed to attract tourists from all over the world.

President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said Pakistan welcomed the recent thaw in relations with India, reiterating the country stands for peace in the region.
'Pakistan stands for peace in South Asia and the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with India including the core issue of Kashmir through a meaningful dialogue based on sovereign equality,' President Musharraf told top commanders who participated in the day-long 85th Corps Commanders Conference at General Headquarters (GHQ). He said Pakistan would never sideline the Kashmir issue.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf has appreciated the donations made by Prince Karim Aga Khan and applauded the relief efforts made by the Aga Khan Development Network in areas affected by the October 8 earthquake. He was talking to Prince Karim Aga Khan who called on him at the Aiwan-i-Sadr on Thursday. Prince Karim is visiting Pakistan to express solidarity with earthquake victims.They also discussed regional and international matters of mutual interest, including Pakistan?s role in the war on terror, situation in Afghanistan, composite dialogue with India and developments in the Middle East.

President General Pervez Musharraf has said a conducive policy framework and support mechanism has been ensured to encourage private investment in the micro finance sector and the private sector and development organisations must take full advantage of these measures to contribute towards real poverty eradication in the country.
He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the First Micro Finance Bank set up by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development here on Monday.

Hunza has once again achieved Unesco's Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation, a statement issued here on Monday said.The award of distinction for the year 2002 has been given to Ganish, a small settlement in central Hunza in the Northern Areas, for preserving four historical mosques.
In all, 142 entries from 37 Asia-Pacific countries competed for the Award, bringing to world attention the high quality of conservation work being done around the region.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf will inaugurate here on March 11 the establishment of another Micro Finance Bank to offer small loans to the needy.
The bank is a joint venture between the Aga Khan Foundation and the International Finance Corporation, a subsidiary of the World Bank.
According to official sources, the bank will have a Rs500 million paid-up capital, which will be increased gradually.
The government had set up last year the Micro Finance Bank, now named Khushhali Bank, with an initial capital of Rs1 billion. The president will also be the chief guest at the launch of Serena hotel.

The European Commission will provide Euro 20 million (equivalent to Rs1.28 billion) to the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) as grant for implementation of its programme to increase women's access to education in the Northern Areas and Chitral.
A contract to this effect was signed between the ambassador and head of the European Commission delegation in Pakistan, Ilkka Uusitalo, and AKF Chairman Kamal Chinoy at the education ministry on Tuesday. Minister for Education Zobaida Jalal was also present.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Pakistan People's Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto have condoled the death of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan.In his condolence message to Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, on Wednesday, President Musharraf said Sadruddin Aga Khan was a great friend of Pakistan. 'May Allah Almighty rest his soul in peace and grant your highness and the bereaved family the patience to bear this great loss,' he said.

The consortium of Supreme Council/Qatar National Bank and the Aga Khan Fund are considered to be serious contenders in the list of 19 buyers who have conveyed their interest to the Privatisation Commission (PC) in the acquisition of the management stake in Habib Bank Limited, privatisation pundits told Business Recorder on Sunday.

The USAID has launched a new initiative to strengthen the management capacity of a new generation of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Pakistan through a grant to the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). I
The programme will strengthen and increase the competitive base of NGOs to help them meet management standards required to compete for donor funds, said an announcement issued here on Monday.

US Ambassador Nancy Powell highlighted the USG's commitment to develop civil society in the country, which has an important role to play in Pakistan's social, economic and political development.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Saturday said his government was committed to the development of health, education, female literacy and employment in country's remotest areas.

In the drive to supplement the relief efforts in the quake-devastated areas of the countries various organisations in the public and privates sectors have offered aid and other services.
According to a press release, the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili community and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), in a letter to President Pervez Musharraf has assured the government of support for relief assistance for the earthquake victims, affected in all areas.

A new programme to improve childhood development and education in Pakistan's poverty stricken provinces of Balochistan and Sindh in the south of the country will be implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKFP) and USAID.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: The Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, arrives here on Tuesday at the start of an official visit to Pakistan.During his stay, he will hold discussions with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and other senior government officials.
The Aga Khan is expected to preside at the coming convocation of the Aga Khan University in Karachi, and to attend meetings of the university's board of trustees, says a press release issued here on Monday.

The Privatisation Commission today formally granted the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) rights to 51% of the shareholding in Habib Bank Limited against a committed investment of Pakistani Rupees 22.409 billion (US$389 million) in accordance with all statutory requirements and the terms of the successful bid as approved by the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation.

Prince Karim Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect, arrived here Tuesday night on a 6-day visit to Pakistan.Federal Minister for Water and Power, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao received the guest at Chaklala air base.
The Prince's prominent followers were also present at the air base. During his stay in Pakistan, Prince Karim Aga Khan will meet President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

Spiritual Leader of the Ismailis, Prince Karim Aha Khan called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here at the Prime Minister House on Sunday and discussed the regional and international situation.He congratulated the Prime Minister on his successful tour of SAARC countries.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz briefed Prince Karim Aga Khan about his recent dialogue process with Indian leadership and said Pakistan wanted peace and stability in the region and willing to resolve all the disputes including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir peacefully in accordance with the aspiration of Kashmiris.

Islamabad ready for talks with Delhi at any time, anywhere; seeks ties of trust with Afghanistan; Aga Khan lauds Pak economic achievements
ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf said Friday that Pakistan stands for peaceful settlement of all issues with India including the core issue of Kashmir. He said Islamabad is ready to enter into a dialogue with New Delhi and desires sincerity in this commitment.