Posts Tagged Aga Khan
Remebering first visit of H.H The Aga Khan to Gilgit – Baltistan
In 1960 present Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, paid his first visit to Hunza valley. His visit was part of a comprehensive tour that included meetings with the Ismaili Jamat in Gilgit and Ghizar as well. Today the Ismailis of Hunza are celebrating this day with religious zeal and fervor.
We wish our Ismaili readers of Hunza and Gilgit – Baltistan a very Happy Salgirah Mubarak of the first visit of His Highness the Aga Khan.
11 comments October 23, 2009
[Feature]The women who would restore a symbol of Hunza’s history
by Noor & Asghar Khan
As the nine hundred years old Altit Fort gets completely restored in the year 2010, not only would facade of the ancient fort have changed in the middle of Hunza valley, a deeper social change would also have taken roots in terms of perceptions regarding gender roles in the society.
Traditionally labour of the the female folk of Hunza was limited to bringing up children, grazing 
animal, watering crop fields, collecting wood for fuel, grass for the cattle, or doing other indoor choirs, as allowed by the society. However, with the passage of time the women of Hunza adopted other roles entering other mainstream professions, like teaching, medicine, politics, social development and, recently, the armed forces. This was made possible by the education system introduced by His Highness the Aga Khan, through AKDN.
Now, the women of Hunza have taken yet another step towards social emancipation.
Seventy percent of the total people working on restoration of the fort are trained female skilled workers. Female electricians, carpenters, masons and plumbers restoring the Altit fort are making history by venturing into new areas of opportunity and expression, hitherto considered forbidden for the “fair” sex.
This is a welcome change as far as economic, psychological and social independence of the women of Hunza is concerned.
The restoration project is undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The trust has trained and employed a large number of women of Hunza, creating new opportunities of earning livelihood for half of the population, while also breaking taboos that limited choices for the women to a selected number of gender roles, as determined by a patriarchical society.
It is, now, also important to further work for objective sensitization of the society at large regarding the changed gender roles and their implications. One major negative implication can be lesser work available for the men who used to perform such tasks in the past. This might frustrate a segment of the society, no matter how small.
What is required is a holistic, inclusive, strategic plan
for balanced social development where the emancipation of one segment of the society does not shrink choices for the other, neutralizing the impact of change. This is vital for maintaining social harmony and family life, in a changed and charged social environment.
Men of Hunza have, logically, been supportive of the processes that have led to creation of the society that we have today. What they need to further understand is that when the social roles are changed, rules of the game of social life also change, by default. They will have to learn to live and compete in a beautifully different and a meritocratic society.
8 comments September 21, 2009
Volleyball and Football tournaments concluded in Yasin valley
by Liaqat Begal
Yasin, July 19: Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board organized Football and Volleyball tournaments in Thoi, Yasin valley, Ghizar district. Sixteen teams participated in the football tournament, out of which Rahimabad and Begal Eleven qualified for the final. Scores were level, 2-2, till the end of the given time, however Rahimabad was able to win the final match through penalty strokes.
In valley ball teams from Taus, Thoi and Silgan participated. The final match was played between Taus A and Thoi A. Sports Secretary Thoi, Anjum, distributed prizes among the winning and runner up teams.
Add comment July 20, 2009
The story of Imamat Day at Gulmit in photographs
Photographs by Asghar Khan
10 comments July 15, 2009
Imamat Day celebrated across Gilgit – Baltistan
PT report
Ghizar, Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza – July 12: Ismaili Muslims celebrated Imamat day of H.H the Aga Khan on 11th July with traditional religious zeal and fervor. Festivals were held across Gilgit, Hunza and Ghizar Districts, at all Jamat Khanas.
According to details tens of thousands of people in Punial, Yasin, Gupis and Ishkoman regions of Ghizar district gathered at designated places, to commemorate the day when His Highness the Aga Khan had become Imam of the Ismailis, 52 years ago. Local dance, music and games were organized and participated by young and old, men and women, in their traditional roles.
Skardu – Ismailies living in Skardu district of Baltistan held simple and small events to mark Imamat Day. The number of Ismailis in Skardu is very low and comprises mostly of government officials and businessmen or people serving the Army.
Gilgit – Festivity also prevailed among the Ismaili communities of Gilgit in Jutial, Sonikot, Central Jamat Khana, Zulfiqarabad, Danyore, Oshkandas, Sultanabad and Rahimabad localities of Gilgit city.
Hunza – All three parts of Hunza valley; Shinaki, Central Hunza and Gojal also celebrated Imamat Day of His Highness. Programs were held at all Jamat Khanas of the region, participated by thousands of people.
In Shinaki region Khana Abad, Nasir Abad and Mayoon villages were specially decorated for the celebrations.
Colorful events were also reported in Aliabad, Hyderabad, Karimabad, Hassanabad, Altit, Ahmedabad and other villages of central Hunza, details of which couldn’t reach PT.
In Gojal valley, upper Hunza, events were held in all villages. The biggest event was held in Gulmit Gojal, participated by people of all six Jamat Khanas of the village. Jamat from other parts of the country also attended, besides some non-Ismaili guest from different parts of the world, the highly colorful event, which lasted for more than eight hours, including tableaus, speeches, flag hoisting, Mushairas, sktis, singing and traditional dance. Over three thousand people participated in the event, according to conservative estimates.
Similar events were also held in other villages of Gojal valley, including Shishkat, Ghulkin, Hussaini, Passu, Shimshal, Khyber, Moorkhoon, Jamalabad, Khudabad, Sost Misgar and the Chipursan valley.
Mountains in many parts of the region illuminated with fireworks as Ismaili scouts lit fire to celebrate the leadership of their Imam.
Add comment July 13, 2009
Imamat Day Mubarak to all Ismailies
Pamir Times wishes its Ismaili readers a very happy Imamat Day on 11th July.
36 comments July 10, 2009
Focused on nature – Photographs by Prince Hussain Aga Khan
“In my photographs, I let the animals and trees speak for themselves and hope other people see what I see.”
Hussain Aga Khan
4 comments July 2, 2009
FOCUS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE bags yet another award
Mr. Ghulam Panjwani, Executive Officer along with Mr. Amyn Dossa, Chairman of the Board of Directors received the Certificate, on 16th June, 2009, from Sir John Holmes, Under Secretary of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs , at a highly distinguished and stately ceremony held at the premise of the UNISDR.
The United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction is one of the three prestigious awards established in 1986 by Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa, the founding Chairman of the Nippon Foundation.
2 comments July 1, 2009
His High the Aga Khan the first Muslim to be honored by Cambridge unversity in 800 years
HH The Aga Khan at the award ceremony
In a colourful and historic ceremony held on Friday, 12 June, the University of Cambridge conferred upon Mawlana Hazar Imam an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity. Hazar Imam became the first Muslim to receive the distinction in the University’s long and storied history.
“The Honorary Doctorate of Divinity is awarded to individuals who have made a global impact through their religious leadership,” said Tim Winter, Academic Secretary in the Faculty of Divinity. “I am delighted that His Highness the Aga Khan, whose charitable and spiritual leadership has a truly worldwide reach, and whose support for scholarship has impacted profoundly on Islamic Studies, should have been chosen for this well-deserved honour.” SOURCE
25 comments June 18, 2009
SourceAga Khan becomes sixth person in history to become honorary Canadian citizen
Honorary Canadian citizenship is bestowed by the governor general and requires the unanimous approval of all voting MPs.
It has been given to four others: Swedish diplomat and Holocaust hero Raoul Wallenberg (posthumously in 1985); former South Africa president and Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela (2001); the Dalai Lama (2006); and pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi (2007), a Nobel laureate who has spent most of the last 20 years under house arrest in her native Myanmar. More at SOURCE
16 comments June 10, 2009
Rumina Velshi – An Ismaili nuclear engineer
Rumina Velshi
Title: Director of Planning and Controls for the Darlington Nuclear New Project
Company: Ontario Power Generation
More
17 comments April 8, 2009
Hunar Gah emerging as a model cottage industry
by Asghar Khan
Gilgit, April 4: Gilgit Serena Hotel’s (SEED) Social Environmental Education Development Program and WAC (Women’s Activity Committee) joined hands to contribute towards the capacity building of Hunar Gah Project in Danyore Gilgit. Huner Gah is a project of His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Pakistan.
Hunar Gah is the first Garment Industry run by the women in Northern Areas through active involvement of the local stakeholders, utilizing and developing the local resources especially the women. The objectives of Hunar Gah Project are 1) to create a work environment where women can come together and work in a professional atmosphere, 2) to enhance the knowledge, resources, and skills to produce quality and marketable garments, 3) to produce a range of garments for local, national market, 4) to generate income through marketing, and sales of produced garments, 5) to facilitate the women to become self employed and entrepreneurs, 6) to enhance the capacity of the centre through upgrading skills of their women workers in Gilgit.
Hunar Gah has two units, Skills Development centre and Production Unit. The Skills Development Centre is managed by woman having expertise in designing, stitching and embroidery. The aim of this training center is to provide high-level professional trainings. The training is not only focus on women’s garment but for men and children, school uniforms, bed linen, cushion covers, mats and rugs.
The production unit has been managed by expert tailor master for the production of quality garments. The best trainees form skills development centre have been selected for employment and initially, 13 women are working in the production unit on industrial machines and producing 80 – 100 units of garments per day.
Gilgit Serena Hotel (GSH) awarded the contract to Hunar Gah for production of GSH staff uniform for 2009 as per our existing designs and fabrics. Hunar Gah has been able to successfully meet the deadlines for the delivery of uniform during the month of March.
An activity with the WAC officials and Hunar Gah women employees was organized under SEED Program at their premises on the final delivery of staff uniform for GSH. GSH SEED Team along with associates wearing the new uniform produced visited Hunar Gah Project to appreciate the efforts and to encourage the women workers.
The General Manager of Gilgit Serena Hotel appreciated their good quality work and assured them for Serena Hotels support for the promotion of their organization. At the end, Ms. Yasmin Ali- Convenor Regional WAC, Ms. Sanam Zafar- Chairperson of the Centre and Mr. Amir Ali Member Finance, of the Hunar Gah thanked Serena Management for their valuable support.
6 comments April 4, 2009
Abbas Ali makes Hunza proud
by Nur
Abbas Ali, a resident of Hunza valley, is one of the pioneering graduates of MA in Muslim Cultures at the Institute for Study of Muslim Civilizations. He graduated, recenlty, along with 12 of his batch fellows, in a ceremony held in London.
“Abbas Ali had completed his MBA in marketing from the Institute 
of Business Administration, Punjab University, Pakistan; he also completed several courses in business development at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Prior to joining the Institute, Abbas has worked within the Aga Khan Development Network in the following positions: Head of the Internal Audit Department at AKU, Pakistan; Coordinator for the AKDN Group Purchase Programme, AKU Hospital, Northern Areas, Pakistan; and, Marketing Lead with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture supported Karakoram Handicrafts Programme in the Northern Areas, Pakistan”. SOURCE
“Abbas has also served as a member of the Aga Khan Social Welfare Board (Northern Areas, Pakistan) and President of the Altit Youth Social Welfare Association, Hunza”.
Editor’s note: Abbas Ali has been contributing to Pamir Times for almost a year, now. We are honored to have him amongst us and congrtulate him and his family for this achievement. You have made us proud. Ed_.
25 comments March 9, 2009
FOCUS shares disaster management learning in advocacy forum
Islamabad, February 26, 2009: Lessons and experiences from the project “Building Local Leadership and Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Northern Pakistan” were presented at an advocacy and dissemination seminar organized by Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) in Islamabad. The project was supported by the European Commission through its Humanitarian Aid department.
The objective of the event was to deliberate on ways of mainstreaming and institutionalizing disaster risk reduction initiatives, analysing the socio-economic costs of disasters and understanding current situation and future trends with regard to DRR.
Dignitaries and experts shared their experiences with regard to approaches to disaster risk reduction. Mr. Baber Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, Chief Secretary Northern Areas said that the role of FOCUS is exemplary in Disaster Risk Management. He also acknowledged the contribution of other agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and urged FOCUS to continue the support to the government of Northern Areas given the fact that capacities at government level are limited.
Mr. Moatasim Billah, District Coordination Officer, recognized the efforts of FOCUS with regard to its role in developing district disaster management plan for Chitral as well as the support for providing heli to access a very remote area in Chitral for search of missing people who were hit by avalanche.
Mr. Woolfgang Herbinger, the Country Director for World Food Programme, a signatory to One UN Programme, termed the FOCUS programme as a unique initiative and expressed his desire to replicate in other parts of Pakistan.
In his introductory remarks, Mr. Iqbal Walji, President Ismaili Council for Pakistan gave a brief about the ethos and approaches of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which translates ideals such as compassion, care for others and serving the humanity and other basic principles of Islam.
Mr. Ghulam Panjwani, Executive Officer FOCUS Pakistan, said that FOCUS’ experience of a decade reflects the fact that working in close collaboration with communities can only make the efforts of DRR sustainable hence leading to promotion of disaster resilient communities. He appreciated the dedication and hard work of thousands of volunteers who render their services and support the work of FOCUS. The event was followed by a simulation exercise carried out by the volunteers of FOCUS Search and Rescue Team (SART) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
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- Ms Micico Tanaka (UNDP)
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- Simulation exercise
1 comment February 27, 2009
