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PARIS Dec 16: The Aga Khan's eldest daughter, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, 26, is to marry Mark Boyden, a 35 year old British Management Consultant, his office confirmed on Monday.
The Happy couple will tie the knot early next summer. Princess Zahra, born in Geneva, studied in Switzerland before taking a diploma in Third World studies at Harvard. She currently works as a secreatary for her father.

Boyden, who has an MBA from Oxford, specialises in business ethics, and = also manages the family estate. The Aga Khan has two other children, Prince Rahim and Prince Hussain. - --AFP

Mowlana Kauser Niazi, Your Excellencies, Eminent Scholars.

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen

I thank you for your kindness in inviting me to this function tonight and giving me an opportunity to meet the representatives of an important section of the business and industrial community of Karachi.

You have referred to the advice I gave on another occasion to the members of my own community to assist in the building of this country.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

I have been most moved by the wonderful welcome I have received in Karachi. Everyone has been so kind, and for me this day will always remain a brilliant memory.

Members of the Board, Ladies and gentlemen:

My wife and I ought to visit the school a great deal more often because we receive such lovely presents. That I would be very encouraged to come back. I think I should say that this visit was provoked by me because the visits to the schools hadn't been planed originally. And I have been asked to come and see what progress has been made in our educational institutions and particularly the new ones that have been developed since 1960 here in Karachi and in other parts of Pakistan.

MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM CONFERS DEGREES AT THIRD ANNUAL CONVOCATION OF THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY
In November 1990, Mawlana Hazar Imam visited Pakistan for the Third Annual Convocation of the Aga Khan University (AKU) where eighty-eight doctors and ninety-three registered nurses received their degrees and diplomas.

Karachi, Nov 11: Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, announced on Monday the establishment of endowment funds for the Aga Khan University Faculty of Health Sciences and the Aga Khan University Hospital. The endowments are to be named after Begum Shafiqa Zia-Haq.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 300 million dollar university and hospital by President Gen. Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, the Aga Khan said he wanted to give a permanent form of expression of gratitude to the President for his support in establishing the university and the hospital.

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.

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.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Saturday launched three major projects for Karachi which will be completed within two years at a cost of over Rs443 million.

Pakistan's privatization programme Has been very transparent and effective. This was stated by the Federal Minister for investment and Privatization, Senator Dr. Hafeez Shaikh, while talking to Reporters at a local hotel on Monday.He said that the transaction of Habib Bank has been Excellent which has earned a good name for Pakistan the world over. The Minister said that the entire international community understands that Pakistan's privatization programme has been very transparent and effective.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here Saturday called upon students in particular and people in general to realize that 21st century focusses on a global society and knowledge based economies where education is to play a key role.

Speaking at Aga Khan University Convocation of 2005 batch, comprising graduates of medical college, school of nursing and institute for educational development, Mr. Aziz said it will be educational quality of the work force that will determine the country's economic performance.

A committee of cabinet ministers is working out a strategy for the privatization of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and will finalize its recommendations before June this year.The committee comprising ministers and senior officials have been asked to recommend the best possible strategy for the privatization of PTCL. Well-placed sources say the committee is confronted with a pressing issue, that is, if PTCL is offered to a single group of strategic investor it will create a giant monopoly.

The Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan (AKPBS, P) the other day organized a daylong workshop on 'Improving the Living Conditions of Rural Communities in Sindh' at Ali Mohammed Ismail village, Khyber, Hyderabad District.
The Nazim and Naib Nazim of the district and other members of the local government, directors of the AKPBS, P and representatives of various other NGOs were among the 200 people who attended the programme, says a Press release here on Friday.

Civil society organizations have an impressive history of substantial contribution to the socio-economic and political development in the country and there are new opportunities evolving gradually for NGOs.
Pakistan has also an excellent record of civil society organizations' contributions to the country's social, economic and political development.
These observations were made by the Consul General of the United States in Karachi, Douglas C. Rohn, while speaking at a launching workshop of the NGO Institutional Management and Certification Programme (IMCP) held here on Wednesday.

Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Saturday said that the present government has convincingly showed that it is committed to upgrading and reforming the education sector.
'New education initiatives are being implemented that will enhance primary school enrolment, increase training opportunities for teachers and school administrators, spread literacy and encourage public-private partnership for education. Within these programmes many opportunities exist for cooperation between the government and the Aga Khan University'.

The European Union's ambassador to Pakistan, Ilkka Uustialo, has laid emphasis on quality education at the Aga Khan centres for education all over the country .Mr Uustialo was visiting Karimabad education centre, which had been declared the best college of the year.The Aga Khan Education Service (AKES) has been awarded a grant of 20 million euros for the implementation of the Northern Pakistan Education Programme, over the next five years, says a press release on Thursday.

Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) in cooperation with USAID, is implementing 'Releasing Confidence and Creativity (RCC): An Early Childhood Development Programme'. This programme is being implemented in 50 communities of Balochistan and another 50 in Sindh.RCC seeks to support practices and structures in communities, schools, NGOs, and the government that effectively promote early childhood development.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Saturday reiterating his commitment towards quality health care for all in Pakistan, with major emphasis on prevention and control of diseases, said the government vision for health sector was based on 'health for all'.Change in education system is need of the hour, he said at Aga Khan University Convocation of 2005 batch, comprising graduates of medical college, school of nursing and institute for educational development.
'We recognize that as a nation we have to continue work towards universal, affordable, quality healthcare for every single Pakistani.'

Prince Karim Aga Khan, who recently visited the subcontinent, was instrumental in 'breaking the ice' that has led to the recent thaw between India and Pakistan, a Pakistani newspaper reported on Sunday.'It seems the Aga Khan devoted much of his time behind the glare of publicity in April in breaking the ice between New Delhi and Islamabad,' The News quoted diplomatic sources as saying.