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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.

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.

The government is likely to declare Gwadar a tax-free zone, to create opportunities for investors in the country. These suggestions were discussed during meetings between H. H. Prince Karim Aga Khan and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.
Prince Aga Khan showed a keen interest in the new seaport area.

He was asked by the finance minister to enhance operations of First Micro-finance Bank, which he agreed.

Aga Khan appreciated the government's efforts to improve the economy, introduce education reforms and move towards privatisation of public sector units.

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 Ismailis Prince Karim Aga Khan called on General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali here on Wednesday and discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest with them.
Aga Khan held detailed talks with Mr Jamali on the prospects of investment in various fields especially the telecommunication, financial, and social sectors.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf has called upon the international donors and the private sector to help remove poverty by extending adequate grants and loans specially for the establishment of micro-finance banks in the country.
'My government has created a policy framework for investment in the micro-finance banking and now the international donors and the private sector should invest in Pakistan and take the advantage of our liberal policies', he added.

The construction of five new bridges by the Aga Khan Foundation between the remote northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan and the southeastern Badakhshoni Khui province in Tajikistan, will help improve the food situation in extremely vulnerable areas, aid workers told IRIN on Thursday. Both provinces are very mountainous, difficult to reach and are geographically isolated in economic terms.

Education Minister Zobaida Jalal said Tuesday that the education budget is expected to be further enhanced to Rs. 12.5 billion this year compared to last year and the shortage of textbooks would be over soon. 'Our budget requirements are huge: We are talking about anything from Rs. 12.5 billion, yet it will depend on the resources of the government, she said speaking as the chief guest at the Euro 20 million (about Rs. 1.28 billion) grant signing ceremony between Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan and European Commission (EC) for the Northern Pakistan Education Project (NPEP).

Islamabad, May 4 (NNN) : It was the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community in Pakistan, Prince Karim Aga Khan, who led the backdoor diplomatic efforts to break the Indo-Pak impasse, according to newspaper reports here.
At least two knowledgeable ruling politicians and a few senior Pakistani officials are crediting intense background efforts of Aga Khan for the diplomatic breakthrough between Islamabad and New Delhi that in the past few days again ignited hope of a durable peace.

The European Commission (EC) has approved 20 million euros (approximately Rs 1.28 billion) grant for Pakistan's educational development, to be undertaken by Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKFP) over the next five years.
The grant aims at improving access, quality and sustainability of education for in-school and out-of-school children, with increased gender equity and the participation of communities in the Northern Areas and Chitral (NAC).

The European Union will extend 19 million euro (Rs540m) to assist the educational sector in Pakistan. The funding will mainly support the Aga Khan Foundation's Institute for Educational Development (IED), Phase-2.
The purpose of the EU contribution towards the 2nd phase of the IED is to strengthen its capacity to help ensure the sustainability of its educational programmes. The EU support is provided with a view to assist to improve the quality, effectiveness, relevance and outreach of education systems in Pakistan.

Finance Minister Shuakat Aziz on Monday lauded the achievements of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and pledged the government's firm backing to the initiative.
'The government has recently underwritten the $238 million second tranche to the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, which I am told is a strong supporter of the RSPs and is increasingly becoming a major development partner,' he said, while speaking at the inaugural conference on 'lesions in development - the AKRSP experience,' here.

Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS), an agency affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), has mobilised specialised staff, volunteers and resources in response to the widespread destruction following the earthquake which struck several parts of Pakistan.