President appreciates Aga Khan’s services for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday said the government was keen to exploit the economic potential of Gilgit-Baltistan particularly its energy and natural resources for the prosperity of people.

Talking to Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President said the government would continue to work with the Aga Khan Foundation for poverty alleviation and other social welfare and economic activities.

He appreciated the services of Prince Karim Aga Khan across the world and particularly for the people of Pakistan in diverse sectors including education, health and poverty eradication. The President lauded the continued support of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Aga Khan Foundation in taking lead in a number of important social sector projects especially in Northern Areas.

He said Aga Khan network’s continued engagement in Gilgit-Baltistan was making positive impacts on lives of the people and infrastructure in the area. The President wished Prince Karim Aga Khan long life, good health and prosperity. Prince Karim Aga Khan thanked the President and the government of Pakistan for the warm welcome and hospitality.He appreciated the government’s efforts for the socio-economic development of its people.

He also assured the government continued support of his network to the government and people of Pakistan and said that various projects being undertaken by the Aga Khan Foundation for the socio- economic uplift of the people of northern areas of Pakistan will be vigorously pursued and completed in time.

Prince Karim Aga Khan was accompanied by his daughter Zahra Karim Aga Khan, Sultan Ali Allana, Iqbal Walji and Amyn Kassim-Lakha. The meeting was attended by Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Nadeem Hassan Asif, Secretary to the President, Ahmad Farooq, Additional Secretary, Tasnim Aslam, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saba Mohsin Raza, Press Secretary to the President.