Empowering Communities, Transforming Lives: Ismaili Imamat’s Commitment to Pakistan’s Development

For over a century, the Ismaili Imamat has made remarkable contributions toward enhancing the lives of the people in Pakistan. The story traces back to Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, who played a significant role in the freedom movement leading to the formation of Pakistan in 1947.

Since then, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV has carried forward his grandfather’s legacy and is renowned for his unwavering dedication to the betterment of the Pakistani population. A tangible manifestation of his profound social conscience is the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which encompasses various private, non-governmental, and non-denominational development agencies working tirelessly to uplift the quality of life in the developing world. Guided by Islamic ethics, the AKDN aims to improve opportunities and living conditions for the most vulnerable individuals, irrespective of their background, gender, or faith.

For the Ismaili Imamat, empowering marginalized sections of society to become self-sufficient is a fundamental principle rooted in the teachings of Islam. As far back as 1976, during the International Seerat Conference held in Pakistan, Aga Khan IV emphasized that Muslims can attain greater prosperity in the years ahead within an Islamic ethos by seeking guidance from the Holy Quran and the example set by Allah’s final Prophet.

In Pakistan, the AKDN has consistently played a proactive role in education, healthcare, preservation of cultural heritage, and addressing climate change. The Aga Khan University (AKU) conducts cutting-edge research specifically relevant to the health risks faced by Pakistan. One recent initiative, the AKU’s Institute for Global Health and Development, focuses on interdisciplinary research to tackle pressing global health and development issues, including the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals and the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) first began in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral (GBC), Pakistan in the year 1982. The region, at the time, was one of the poorest areas in the developing world, with rural communities of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds struggling to make ends meet. These communities were often isolated and left behind by progress elsewhere, farming small plots of land in a harsh, mountainous desert ecosystem. Spread across an area larger than Ireland, the 1.9 million people in the AKRSP program area lived in small villages widely dispersed throughout almost 90,000 square kilometers. Despite the challenges, the AKRSP has aimed to provide support and bring about positive change in these communities.

Similarly, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) works extensively with 500,000 members of mountain communities in Pakistan, aiming to help them create secure, resilient habitats, including earthquake-resistant buildings and disaster preparedness with early warning systems.

Another recent testament to the Ismaili Imamat’s commitment to Pakistan is its contribution of $10 million in response to the devastating floods that have crippled the country’s infrastructure. The AKDN swiftly mobilized its agencies, such as the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Aga Khan University (AKU), and Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), to provide relief to those affected by the catastrophic floods. Their efforts encompass not only the evacuation of affected areas but also the establishment of health camps and the distribution of food and waterproof tents.

The multitude of institutions and programs bearing the Aga Khan’s name, which operate across Pakistan, exemplify the Ismaili Imamat’s unwavering dedication to the welfare of the country’s people. The ultimate objective is to foster a civil society that effectively addresses the challenges of social, economic, and cultural progress in Pakistan.

Related readings: https://the.ismaili/pakistan/our-community/the-role-akdn-research-and-innovation-pakistan