Between February 13 and 17, 1993, Hazar Imam paid a brief visit to Pakistan to attend various meetings at the Aga Khan University (AKU).
Hazar Imam's first stop was Islamabad where he was met at the airport by Pakistan's president Ghulam Ishaq Khan and senior government officials, as well as jamati leaders. In Islamabad, Mawlana Hazar Imam, who was staying at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President's official residence, met with Pakistan's Finance Minister Sartaj Aziz and Education Minister Fakhre Imam. On the evening of his arrival, Hazar Imam attended a dinner hosted in his honour by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and the following afternoon, prior to departing for Karachi, was the guest of honour at a luncheon hosted by prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Governor Mahmood Haroon of Sindh Province welcomed Mawlana Hazar Imam at Karachi airport and later hosted a formal dinner in Hazar Imam's honour at Governor House.
In Karachi, Mawlana Hazar Imam, Chancellor of AKU, presided over meetings of the University's Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustee is composed of distinguished individuals from Pakistan and overseas and meets regularly in accordance with the University's Charter. With the extensive academic and administrative experience of its members, the Board of Trustees exercises general supervision over the affairs of the University and assists in guiding it to attain its objectives.
Hazar Imam also toured the AKU Medical Centre and visited various departments to review space utilization matters and the operational maintenance of certain facilities. He attended a presentation at the School of Nursing and discussed with members of the Department of Community Health Sciences, the progress of the multi-million dollar health system research project in Thatta District. This project is funded by the World bank and the Sindh Government, and in which AKU is the technical adviser. While at AKU, Mawlana Hazar Imam also had the opportunity to meet informally with Faculty and staff members.
Mawlana Hazar Imam also met with the members of the Chancellor's Commission, the group of prominent academicians and professionals which was appointed in 1991 to advise Hazar Imam on AKU's next era of growth. Among the issues being considered are appropriate opportunities for collaborative relationships between AKU and institutions of higher learning in both the developing and the developed world. Members of the Chancellor's Commission were among the guests at a dinner hosted by the Chief Justice and the Judges of the High Court of Sindh in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam, Mr. Justice Syed Haider Ali Pirzada and other AKU Trustees.
Mawlana Hazar Imam departed for Europe from Karachi on February 17th.
(Source: Ismaili Canada Feb 13-17/93)
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