Introduced, prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT

INTRODUCTION

We are always happy to welcome new readers. Regular readers may be aware that since 2021, Barakah has been publishing special posts to honour members of Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s family on their birthdays. In that respect, one of the most comprehensive posts ever published on this blog, or on any website that we are aware of, was on the auspicious occasion of Princess Zahra’s 52nd birthday on September 18, 2022. Hundreds of Ismaili magazines dating back decades were painstakingly reviewed in an effort to compile information and obtain photographs of Princess Zahra’s early life as well as her extraordinary contribution to the work of the Ismaili Imamat since the mid 1990’s.

We honour Princess Zahra on her 53rd birthday, September 18, 2023, by updating the 2022 birthday post with material from our two very popular pieces namely News on Mawlana Hazar Imam and members of his family July 13, 2021 to December 31, 2022 and News 2023.

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Zahra, The Radiant

To Princess Zahra, the Radiant, we convey our heartiest congratulation and best birthday wishes on the occasion of her 53rd birthday on September 18, 2023, and wish her many more birthdays to come. We take this opportunity to express our congratulations to Mawlana Hazar Imam and all the members of his family on this very happy occasion.

The Arabic name Zahra means beautiful, bright, shining and brilliant. It may be noted that we refer to Bibi Fatimah (A.S.), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S.), and wife of the first Shia Imam, Hazrat Ali (A.S.), as Zahra, which also means radiant.

Ismailis around the world have followed Princess Zahra’s life with great interest. She has been fully engaged in the work of her father through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and other Imamat Institutions since the mid 1990’s. We are pleased to highlight her extraordinary devotion to the work of the Imamat below.

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Education and Career

Princess Zahra’s schooling was at the Le Rosey School in Switzerland, the same school that Mawlana Hazar Imam attended after World War II. As a teenager, Princess Zahra was interested in astronomy, a fact that became known to the Jamat when Mawlana Hazar Imam and Begum Salimah were presented with technological gifts for the Princess and her two younger brothers, Prince Rarim and Prince Hussain during their visit to Houston in 1986.

However, Princess Zahra pursued Development Studies at Harvard University, where she graduated in 1994 with an Honours degree. She also completed a four-month program at Massachusetts General Hospital to enhance her understanding of healthcare systems and the delivery of advanced medical care, and an Executive Finance course at the world renowned International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The two great needs for education in the developing world are quality and relevance. Lacking in either, you will never produce a culturally independent society — Princess Zahra Aga Khan, in “homecoming” interview, Harvard Gazette, May 13, 2008

Indeed, this education prepared Princess Zahra for the work that she was going to pursue for her father’s Jamati and Imamat Institutions. Princess Zahra joined the Secretariat of Mawlana Hazar Imam at Aiglemont, France, in 1994.

Today, Princess Zahra Aga Khan is a Member of the Board of Directors of the AKDN. For ten years Princess Zahra was the Director of the Social Welfare Department and of the Health, Education and Planning and Building Service Companies of the AKDN. Princess Zahra serves in various leadership roles within the Aga Khan Development Network, including as Trustee of the Aga Khan University and the University of Central Asia. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Aga Khan Foundation, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the Global Centre for Pluralism located in Ottawa and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat. She also works with Ismaili institutions in the areas of social welfare, women’s activities and youth programs. Outside AKDN and Jamati institutions, Princess Zahra contributes as a Member of the Board of France Galop, the French racing authority, and is President of the Board of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

In continuation of our previous birthday tributes to the Princess on her 51st and 52nd birthdays Barakah is now proud to honour Princess Zahra on her 53rd birthday with this post. We wish her good health, happiness, and continued success in all her endeavours.

1970 – 1981: Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Childhood

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1994 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at MIT for Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Commencement Speech

On May 27, 1994 Mawlana Hazar Imam addressed a gathering of more than 10,000 as a commencement speaker at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), becoming the first Muslim to give a commencement speech at the world-renowned academic institution. Mawlana Hazar Imam said that “MIT has shown a standard of excellence in education and research that sets a benchmark for universities everywhere.” Referring to his Fatimid ancestors, Mawlana Hazar Imam said:

“Education has been important to my family for a long time. My forefathers founded Al Azhar University in Cairo some 1,000 years ago, at the time of the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt. Discovery of knowledge was seen by those founders as an embodiment of religious faith, and faith as reinforced by knowledge of workings of the Creator’s physical world. The form of universities has changed over those 1,000 years, but that reciprocity between faith and knowledge remains a source of strength.”

Princess Zahra attended the event with her mother Begum Salimah and brother Prince Hussain.

1994 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Accompanies Mawlana Hazar Imam to Pakistan for Inauguration of New Phase in Future of Network Institutions

Over ten days in November 1994, Mawlana Hazar Imam attended events marking a new phase in the future of Imamat institutions in Pakistan. The visit was at the official invitation of the Government of Pakistan and Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied by Prince Amyn Mohamed and Princess Zahra. The Aga Khan University’s tenth anniversary was celebrated with the University’s Convocation on November 19, 1994.

During the course of the visit, Princess Zahra attended the Aga Khan University Board of Trustees Meeting, the Aga Khan University Convocation Ceremony and also pursued an independent programme of meetings relating to her assignment at Aiglemont, France. The Princess also reviewed with the Women’s, Youth and Sports and Social Welfare portfolios, the work being undertaken with respect to the Jamati constituencies served by them in Pakistan.

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1995 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Joins Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Secretariat and Visits Ismaili Community Institutions Around the World

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1995 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Canada for Jamati Institutional Meetings and Montreal Partnership Walk

Like her visits to East African countries as well as France and Portugal, Princess Zahra in May 1995 visited the Canadian cities of Toronto, Calgary and Montreal for meetings related to the Women’s, Youth and Social Welfare portfolios of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Canada. The meetings were complemented by site visits to provide a sense of the physical environment within which the work of the Ismaili institutions, supported by the Ismaili community, was carried out.

In Montreal, Princess Zahra with Mayor Pierre Bourque officially declared open the 1995 Partnership Walk organized by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and joined hundreds of participants attending the Walk.

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1995 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends Aga Khan Foundation UK Ball in London

Prince Zahra graced the Aga Khan Foundation UK (AKF-UK) Ball at London’s Grosvenor House. “Water for Life” was the theme of the charity function which attracted over 900 guests including representatives of government organizations and numerous donors who contributed to the AKF projects in the developing world. In her speech, she noted that in many parts of the world, the lack of clean water is a life-threatening problem: the search for clean water places a great strain upon communities and families, especially women. Discussing the role of AKDN she said: “The Network has a long history of working with women to face the challenges of economics and cultural domination. Earlier this century my great-grandfather, Aga Khan III, established maternity centres and schools for girls in many parts of India. Investing in women, yields high returns, both for themselves and for the generations to come.”

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1995 (4): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends the 1995 Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony in Indonesia

Princess Zahra accompanied Mawlana Hazar Imam for the 6th cycle of the Aga Khan Award Ceremony held on November 25, 1995 in Solo, Indonesia, where twelve winners were announced following final deliberations that took place in June 1995.

“The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is the most important international award which surveys the state of the art of architecture — Colin Amery, The Fiancial Times, November 27, 2995

This is architecture defined as the most fundamental building blocks for a saner life — Peter Popham, The Independent, November 20, ,1995.

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1996: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Visits Canada for Launch of special Book on Women’s Empowerment

One of the Aga Khan Development Network’s aims is a return to the Islamic tradition of structuring society around the equality of women. The empowerment of women is a crucial step in engendering the self-confidence to demonstrate that the highest reaches of female education and professionalism are compatible with social morality — Princess Zahra Aga Khan, November 1996, Ottawa

In early September 1996, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) was graced by the presence of Princess Zahra, who came to Ottawa to launch a new book, “Speaking Out: Women’s Economic Empowerment in South Asia,” co-published by AKFC and UNIFEM. The event was attended by High Commissioners and diplomatic representatives from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Tanzania and Uganda, among others. The book was the result of a research project initiated by AKFC and carried out by a team of women researchers from South Asia.

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1997 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends International Ismaili Women’s Forum in Toronto

Eaton Hall, an elegant conference facility in the woodlands of Greater Toronto, was the venue for the International Ismaili Women’s Forum held in May 1997, with the theme Economic Empowerment of Ismaili Women. The 3-day event was sponsored by the International Social Development and Sports Foundation and hosted by the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Canada.

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1997 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan – a Memorable Photo with Mata Salamat, Om Habibeh Aga Khan (d. July 1, 2000)

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1997 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Inaugurates Karimabad Fitness Centre in Pakistan

In September 1997, Princess Zahra formally inaugurated the Karimabad Fitness Centre in Karachi. Located at the site of the former Karimabad Jamatkhana on Karimabad Housing Colony, the fitness centre was constructed in collaboration with the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for Pakistan. The goal of the Fitness centre and other similar centres is to provide members of the Jamat and in particular the elderly and women with low cost facilities where they can regularly engage in physical exercise for good health. Much to the delight of the residents of the Karimabad Housing Colony, the Princess proceeded to tour the facilities after formally declaring the Fitness Centre open.

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1998 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends Houston Partnership Walk

“Women and Development: A World of Opportunity” was the theme of Houston’s first ever Partnership Walk held on April 5, 1998 at the scenic campus of the University of Houston. More than 16,000 people gathered at the Walk. The Walk was attended by Houston’s Mayor Dr. Lee Brown and Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who proclaimed April 5, 1998 as AKF Partnership Walk Day. At the time, Princess Zahra was married to Mark Boyden, who also attended the walk.

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1998 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at International Volunteers Conference in Edmonton

How do you mobilise volunteers? I will again turn to Ismaili tradition for an answer. Amongst Ismailis, it starts early and continues throughout an individual’s life. Young Ismaili children perform volunteer tasks at Jamatkhanas: serving water, collecting and looking after coats, and the like, tasks which require no professional knowledge, but which introduce, at an early age, the ethos of volunteerism. As she or he grows and develops academically and professionally, so do the complexity and performance of the voluntary tasks. For example, in order to protect people from the astronomical costs of litigation, we ask senior lawyers to volunteer their time on Conciliation and Arbitration Boards, in order to help people obtain professional and fair, yet completely free, judgement in commercial and domestic matters. Nowadays, this service is, in many places, used by Ismailis and non-Ismailis alike. In other instances, professionals volunteer their time and skill to bring the benefits of technology to people who might otherwise never be able to afford, or have access to, it. The ethic of service to others, is thus, inculcated early, and works to broaden the individual’s experience in relating harmoniously to the society around him or her. — Princess Zahra Aga Khan, International Volunteers Conference, Edmonton, August 1998.

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Edmonton Children to Princess Zahra: “You are the Sunshine of My Life”

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1998 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Opening of Madrasa Resource Centre in Kampala

The Madrasa Resource Centre in Kampala was officially opened by Uganda’s First Lady, Janet Musevini, in Kampala on September 13, 1998, in the presence of Princess Zahra. The opening was witnessed by over 200 guests representing the government, NGO’s, members of the Ismaili community and local communities as well as agencies of AKDN.

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2000/2001: Princess Zahra Aga Khan chairs the first global Ismaili youth conference

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2003 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Promotes Education and Entrepreneurship in Mozambique and Kenya

MOZAMBIQUE

Over 4 days in March 2003, Princess Zahra witnessed at first-hand, progress on AKDN initiatives in education, health and rural development in Mozambique and Kenya.

In Mozambique, the Princess had formal discussions with Mozambique’s Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi and joined Education Minister Alcido Eduardo Nguenha for the signature of an agreement formalizing the transfer of a 23 -hectare site near Maputo on which the Aga Khan Education Services would build a centre of excellence.

Our hope is to create a world-class academic resource immediately accessible to the youth in Mozambique, to enrich the educational offering for the entire region, and to build unique linkages with academic institutions of renown across the developing and developed worlds — Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Mozambique, March 2003, on the proposed Aga Khan Academy in Maputo

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KENYA

During her visit to Nairobi, Princess Zahra reminded youth of their stewardship, to leave the world a better place than they found it. Seeking excellence in education, a betterment in a societal sense, promoting lifelong learning, thinking internationally, and having fun permeated Princess Zahra’s formal remarks to the youth. “It matters a lot that we understand each other,” said the Princess.

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2003 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan is Appointed to the Aga Khan University’s Board of Trustees

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2003 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Gives Keynote Address at the Ismaili Health Professionals Symposium in Atlanta

Today’s Symposium is yet another example of the lifelong humanitarian work this organization [AKDN] continues to do by working to close the healthcare gap between the industrialized and developing nations — Georgia Secretary of State, Honorable Cathy Cox, Atlanta, August 2003

In her insightful keynote address to a record, 1000 participants at the 5th annual Ismaili Health Professionals Association Symposium held in Augst 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia, Princess Zahra commended the dedication of participants and inspired them to continue to contribute their diverse skills to assisting under-served populations.

In her welcome address, Georgia’s Secretary of State, the Honorable Cathy Cox, referred to Princess Zahra as “truly a role model to those of us who seek to serve the public and make the world a better place for global citizens.” She went on to proclaim the Princess as honorary citizen of Georgia and a member of the Goodwill Ambassador Corps. Secretary Cox referred to the Ismaili community as “a model Muslim community that is committed to good citizenship and social and civic causes in Georgia and throughout the globe.”

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2004 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Ground Breaking of the Aga Khan Academy Maputo

On June 25, 2004, Mawlana Hazar Imam and Mozambique’s President Joaquim Chissano laid the foundation stone of the Aga Khan Academy in Maputo. The Aga Khan Academies are part of a planned network of residential schools of the highest international standards, providing pre-primary through to higher secondary education. Princess Zahra accompanied Mawlana Hazar Imam for the event.

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2004 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends the 2004 Aga Khan Award for Architecture Ceremony in New Delhi

Can architecture be a way of bridging the gap between western and Islamic culture? For most of us, the need to build that bridge is something we’ve only recently become aware of. But someone who has long been trying is the Aga Khan — Robert Campbell, Boston Globe, November 2001.

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2005: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Aga Khan University School of Nursing

The Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing (AKU-SON) is the University’s first academic entity. It began its classes in 1980 with a batch of 39 students. During its 25 years of existence, from 1980 to 2005, the AKU-SON had graduated a total of 2,088 nurses, with 4 Ph.D. nurses in its 64-member faculty. Princess Zahra travelled to attend the silver jubilee commemorative event that took place in December 2005. In her remarks at the event, she said:

“In the past twenty-five years, AKU-SON has truly contributed to the improvement and appreciation of nurses in Pakistan and around the world. In the next twenty-five years, we need to make it easier for women and men to be recognized as professionals and to be socially accepted.”

Noting that nurses were in great demand around the world, and particularly in the wake of the earthquake in Kashmir in October 2005, it was important to acknowledge the contribution that nurses would make in times of disaster and also in the daily life of the nation.

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2006: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Accepts the 2005 Alcan Prize on Behalf of Aga Khan Building and Planning Services, Pakistan

Princess Zahra announced that the Alcan prize would be matched with a $US 1 miilion contribution from Aga Khan Foundation Canada in recognition of Canada’s long-standing support for the work of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services Pakistan and of Alcan’s Canadian roots.

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2006: Princess Zahra Aga Khan at World Habitat Day in Kazan

AKPBS is inspired by His Highness the Aga Khan’s conviction that “a proper home can provide the bridge across that terrible gulf between poverty and a better future”. AKPBS is one of nine agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network whose experience — across 35 countries and several decades — shows that the quality of life — for both urban and rural populations — can be significantly improved: if the endeavour is grounded in communities; if it integrates social, economic and cultural interventions; if it is undertaken with a long-term perspective; and it recognises the value of pluralism — Princess Zahra Aga Khan

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2008: Princess Zahra Aga Khan With Mawlana Hazar Imam at National University of Ireland

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2008: Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Opening of the Ismaili Centre Dubai

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2009 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Summit on Chronic Diseases in Kampala

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2009 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Opening of the Ismaili Centre Dushanbe

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2010 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan At Inaugural Board Meeting of Directors of Global Centre for Pluralism

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2010 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Signs Memorandum of Understanding with the International Baccalaureate

The agreement is an important step in an already strong relationship we have with the International Baccalaureate not only because it will enable our educational institutions to benefit from the educational philosophy, curriculum expertise and academic excellence associated with the IB, but also because it will be instrumental in bridging cultural divides and traditions — Princess Zahra Aga Khan, October 28, 2010.

This is a significant development as it will allow IB to extend its reach and draw upon the expertise AKDN has in providing education to students in some of the poorest and most challenging parts of the world — Jeff Beard, October 28, 2010.

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2012: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends 10th Anniversary of Aga Khan School in Osh

The Aga Khan School in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, was opened in 2002 by Mawlana Hazar Imam. The school marked its 10th anniversary in October 2012 in the presence of Princess Zahra. Although a decade does not seem a very long life in the life of a school, it represented part of the success achieved in the 20 years since the Kyrgyz Republic gained its independence. As part of the festivities, students showcased their diverse talents in singing, dancing and music for the audience.

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Princess Zahra presented awards recognizing staff for exceptional performance, mentorship, community service, and tenure of service. Awards were also presented to students for achievements in academics, sports and extracurricular activities, and voluntary service.

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2014 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Launches Oncology Programme at Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam

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2014 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Address to the Canadian Parliament

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2014 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Dar es Salaam and Arusha for Aga Khan University’s Board of Trustees Meeting

In August 2014, Mawlana Hazar Imam, as Chancellor of the Aga Khan University, presided over a week-long meeting of the AKU’s Board of Trustees in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, Tanzania. As noted previously, Princess Zahra was appointed to the AKU Board of Trustees in 2003 and also participated in the meetings. During the visit Mawlana Hazar Imam and Princess Zahra met with the Board of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam to review the expansion plans for a regional heart and Cancer Centre. This major expansion of the hospital in Dar es Salaam is part of the growing AKDN integrated health systems which include existing and new hospitals in East Africa.

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2016 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Gives a Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 36th Asian Racing Conference in Mumbai

Excerpts from Princess Zahra’s address:

“The horse industry is an important part of the rural economy, employing millions of people around the world in areas of shrinking agricultural production. It supports farms and villages, it provides permanent, year-round employment to riders, lads, farriers, vets, farmers and businesses of all kinds. As my father said, ‘You can look at the horse in human life — in agriculture, in war, or as a vehicle of exploration — for hundreds of years. When you think about it, the horse is one of the most extraordinary phenomena we have’.

“In the late 19th century my great-great-great grandfather was racing horses all over undivided India. He had brought his stock from Persia, where the family had been breeding horses for many generations. Included in those horses in the late 19th century, were Shere Ali, who won the Arab Derby in 1869, Khusroo who won the Winner’s Handicap in 1870, and Maharaj, who won loads of stuff including the Governor’s Cup and the Derby in 1872. In the 20th century my grandfather and great-grandfather also raced their horses throughout India, to win races like the Indian Oaks with Ferial in 1945, four Viceroy’s Cups between 1928 and 1940, seven Eclipse Stakes of India between 1926 and 1956… and in 1922 my great-grandfather bought his foundation mares with Major Hall in Newmarket. Included in those lots was Mumtaz Mahal the “flying filly”, and her blood still runs in the veins of our families today, and in mares like Zafayra and To The Manor Born who are in the Indian Studbook.

“My father, His Highness the Aga Khan, has maintained this family tradition for 55 years, winning an international total of 15 Derbies, 13 Guineas, 7 Prix de Diane, 4 Arcs — but not the Indian Oaks… yet!”

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2016 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Launching of the Kenya Countdown to 2015 Country Case Study

Kenya has a great opportunity today to build a wonderful health system for women and children that focuses on the continuum of care from village-level provision of primary care to high quality sub-country and country hospitals and then on up to referral and teaching hospitals — Princess Zahra Aga Khan, April 28, 2016

On April 28, 2016, the Aga Khan University, Kenya’s Ministry of Health and a group of partners launched the Countdown to 2015 Country Case Study, a landmark study that will help analyze the country’s progress in reducing maternal and child deaths. The findings will guide efforts to accelerate improvements in maternal and child health and achieve Sustainable Development Goals new targets by 2030. Princess Zhara and Kenya’s First Lady Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta attended the launch. Kenya was one of 10 countries selected for the Study.

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2016 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Rahim Inaugurate Health Centre in Gilgit

When my father visited [Northern Pakistan] in the 1960s, he went in on a donkey. The state provided education for boys — and so the AKDN offered education for girls, and very successfully, in many ways. Literacy reached 100 percent. Even the schoolhouses themselves benefited the larger community: Built to a high standard of earthquake-proofing, they could serve as shelters in emergencies — Princess Zahra Aga Khan, in “homecoming” interview, Harvard Gazette, May 13, 2008

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2016 (4): Princess Zahra Aga Khan At Launch of 2nd Phase of Aga Khan Hospital Construction in Dar es Salaam

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2017 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Inaugurates New Bamyan Hospital in Afghanistan

The then Second Vice President of Afghanistan, Sarwar Danesh, and Princess Zahra Aga Khan inaugurated a US $22.8 million state of the art hospital on April 24, 2017 to serve the people of Bamyan. The state-of-the-art 141-bed facility places particular emphasis on the needs of women and children and represents a new chapter for the Bamyan Provincial Hospital.

The Aga Khan Development Network has been committed to the reconstruction of Afghanistan since the beginning of this century, having channelled close to a billion dollars towards the country’s development.

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2017 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Opens New State-of-the-Art Laboratory and Low-Cost in-Patient Unit at Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam

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2017 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Inauguration of Aga Khan Hospital’s Latest Cardiology Technology in Mombasa

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2017 (4): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Accompanies Mawlana Hazar Imam for His Diamond Jubilee Visit to Pakistan

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2018: Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee in Lisbon

Princess Zahra has truly been an inspiration to the Jamat with the work she has done for Mawlana Hazar Imam, and for her devotion to the Imamat and the Jamat. She accompanied Mawlana Hazar Imam on many visits during the Golden Jubilee Year from July 2007 until December 2008, and her devotion, care, and concern for her beloved father was noted by all of us. Her presence during the Diamond Jubilee in Lisbon in July 2018 added immense joy and happiness during the historical occasion.

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2019 (1): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Receives Huffington Award

We were so humbled to honour Princess Zahra, and it was an inspiration to hear about the many projects in healthcare and education that she and the Aga Khan Development Network have spearheaded globally. Through her work, Princess Zahra is building hope and trust in a world where both are greatly needed. — Bonna Kol, President of Asia Society Texas Center.

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2019 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Visits Canada for the Pluralism Award

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2021: New Wing at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi is Named Princess Zahra Pavilion

Like all members of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s family Princess Zahra works silently and effectively. It was therefore with deep happiness that we, as a Jamat, learnt that a state-of-the-art wing at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi was renamed as the Princess Zahra Pavilion.

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2022 (1): PRINCESS ZAHRA AGA KHAN JOINS MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM IN MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL

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2022 (2): PRINCESS ZAHRA AGA KHAN PRAISES AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATES FOR RESILIENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC

More than 660 students in Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda graduated from the Aga Khan University (AKU) in a live-streamed Global Convocation Ceremony that was watched by viewers around the world. The ceremony in Nairobi was attended in-person by Princess Zahra Aga Khan and saw the University commit to becoming carbon neutral in its operations by 2030. Climate scientist, author and activist Dr Peter Kalmus addressed the convocation as its chief guest. The Global Convocation Ceremony also featured the inauguration of President Sulaiman Shahabuddin, who became the third president in AKU’s 39-year history. 

Speaking on behalf of the University’s Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan praised the graduates for the resilience and agility they demonstrated throughout the pandemic and highlighted AKU’s contributions to the countries it serves. 

“Globally, AKU has educated 18,000 individuals,” Princess Zahra said. “It cares for more than 2 million patients every year from internationally accredited hospitals and was recently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world in public health. It also serves as a trusted advisor to government and is a powerful advocate for pluralism and women’s empowerment. During the pandemic, the value of the University’s capacity for cutting-edge inquiry has never been clearer.”

Addressing the members of the Class of 2021 in all four countries, Princess Zahra said: “No AKU class has worked harder for this moment than you have. The last two years challenged you with lockdowns, quarantines and isolation. In the years to come, you will always be able to look back and draw strength from your achievements during this momentous period.”

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2022 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Hussain Welcome President of Greece as She Meets Refugees at Ismaili Centre Lisbon

Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the first woman to be elected President of Greece, visited the Ismaili Centre Lisbon on March 30, 2022 and met with refugee families who have arrived in Portugal from Greece in recent months. Princess Zahra Aga Khan and her brother Prince Hussain received the President on her arrival. Hundreds of refugees have arrived in Portugal from Greece. One of the refugees the President met was 13-year-old Arezu Kabuli from Afghanistan who has been awarded a scholarship to study at the International School of Boston, starting autumn 2022. In recent years, the government of Portugal has prioritised the reception and integration of refugees, and works with local authorities and civil society in a continuous effort to support this commitment. 

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2022 (4): Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Dar es Salaam for New Cancer Treatment Centre

The Citizen Tanzania reports that the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has officially launched the construction of its state-of-the-art Cancer Treatment Centre. The Tanzanian Health minister Ummy Mwalimu and Princess Zahra Aga Khan laid the foundation stone for the Cancer Centre.

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2022 (5): Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Hussain Attend Iftar Dinner at Ismaili Centre Lisbon

On April 21, 2022, the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon hosted an Iftar dinner at which least 12 different religious traditions were represented, including attendees from the Muslim community in Lisbon, the Hindu community, the Buddhist Union, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Religious Freedom Commission. Diplomats from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and the European Union were also present. The president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, was also present along with Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Hussain. Iftar is the meal served to bring people together at the end of a day of fasting during the month of Ramadan. Guests enjoyed an eclectic Iftar dinner — itself a celebration of culture and pluralism — featuring a mix of dishes from South Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. “Gatherings such as this one, of unity and understanding, are needed now more than ever,” remarked Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal.

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2022 (6): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Conveys Special Message from Mawlana Hazar Imam at the University of Central Asia’s 2022 Graduation Ceremonies

On June 18 2022, amid the majestic mountains of the Pamirs and Tien Shan, the graduation ceremonies at the two University of Central Asia (UCA) campuses at Naryn and Khorog brought together parents, faculty and many distinguished guests who came to congratulate the students for their academic achievements and promises of successes yet to come. On behalf of the Chancellor, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who is also a trustee of UCA, conveyed a special message of congratulations. The message concluded as follows:

“As you continue your professional journey, our hopes and aspirations go with you. Ultimately, UCA’s success will be measured by the success of its graduates. No effort has been spared to provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable you to thrive in a rapidly changing world, and it is our dearest hope that you will underpin your professional growth with the values of pluralism, pluralism, responsible citizenship, and ethical leadership.”

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2022 (7): Princess Zahra Aga Khan at Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 65th Imamat Day Anniversary

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2022 (8): Princess Zahra Aga Khan is Presented with Proclamation of 50 Years of Major Ismaili Settlement in Alberta Province and Canada by Premier Jason Kenney

The celebrations of 50 years of the Ismaili community’s significant presence in Canada continued in the city of Edmonton on September 28, 2022, with a luncheon at Government House attended by Princess Zahra and Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Salma Lakhani, followed by the formal opening of the Diwan Pavilion at the Aga Khan Garden.

Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney welcomed guests to the event at Government House and paid tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s contributions to Canada in general and the province of Alberta in particular.

He also presented Princess Zahra with a Government Proclamation acknowledging 50 years of the Jamat’s significant presence in Alberta and Canada, and stated in his remarks that Canada has “benefitted incalculably from the contributions of the Ismaili community over these past five decades.” 

Princess Zahra thanked the Province of Alberta for their partnership and support of the Ismaili community and Imamat institutions over the course of many years. 

As far back as the 1980s, Alberta Aid supported education, health, and rural development initiatives of the Aga Khan Foundation, and in 2012, Alberta became the first province in Canada to sign an Agreement of Cooperation with the Ismaili Imamat. “It is a privilege to be here with you today, and to express, on behalf of His Highness and the Ismaili community around the world, our gratitude for our permanent friendship,” said Princess Zahra. “Thank you Alberta, and thank you Canada, for creating such fertile ground for improving quality of life, not just for the Ismaili community, but for all peoples, regardless of their history, origin, or story,” she added.

A notable guest of honour at the luncheon was Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani, a member of the Ismaili Jamat from Edmonton, and a tireless champion of civic engagement. Ms Lakhani is the first-ever Muslim to hold the position of Lieutenant Governor in Canada.

She spoke of the experience of moving to Canada as a child and living within its enabling environment. “Most of us have felt surrounded by the open arms and generosity of spirit, and resources of countless individuals in Canada who have supported us in our aspirations and reached out to us during our challenging times.” she said, before adding, “Just as today we feel a duty, as not so new Canadians, to reach out to others.”

Later in the day, the Diwan Pavilion at the Aga Khan Garden was inaugurated at the University of Alberta’s Botanic Gardens in Edmonton. Presiding over the ceremony were Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, University of Alberta President Bill Flanagan, and Princess Zahra, on behalf of Mawlana Hazar Imam.

The Diwan was part of the original vision for the Garden to ensure it could be utilised all year round, not least during Alberta’s cold winters. It provides a space to allow for conversations, events, collaboration, and celebration, as well as reflection on the beauty and mystery of nature. In his remarks to guests, Luis Monreal, General Manager of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, spoke of Hazar Imam’s aspiration to showcase, by way of the Garden, the environmental ethic in Islam through its emphasis on human stewardship and our responsibility to protect the natural world.

“It is a gift of His Highness the Aga Khan to Alberta,” said Premier Kenney “and we can see in it his remarkable care, his aesthetic sense, his spiritual sense.”

Premier Kenney also shed light on some of the principles that the Garden can teach. “People,” he said, “can bring their families and have a moment of spiritual restoration, of contemplation of beauty, of quiet, of communing with nature, of seeing the best of the spiritual idea of humankind in harmony with nature.” 

The Aga Khan Garden was inaugurated in the presence of Mawlana Hazar Imam in 2018. It symbolises the hope, peace, and unity that comes when people interact with each other amidst the beauty and inspiration of nature. The Garden was a gift from Hazar Imam to the University of Alberta in honour of its long-standing partnership with the Aga Khan University and broader Aga Khan Development Network.

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2022 (9): Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Rahim at Signing of Agreement Between the Ismaili Imamat and the Province of British Columbia

Barakah has covered this event in a separate post. Please click on Exclusive Report and Photos: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Princess Zahra Represent Mawlana Hazar Imam at Historic Signing of Accord Between the Ismaili Imamat and British Columbia

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2023 (1): PrinceSS Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Rahim Aga Khan Lead Ismaili Imamat and AKDN Delegation to “Climate Resilient pakistan” Conference in Geneva

In a marathon day long conference held in Geneva on Monday, January 9, 2023, dozens of countries and international institutions pledged more than $9 billion for Pakistan in response to last summer’s record breaking monsoon rainfall that caused catastrophic flooding, affecting more than 33 million people. Upwards of 1,700 people died, over 2 million were rendered homeless, crops were wiped out, and vital infrastructure was destroyed and damaged.

The international conference entitled “Climate Resilient Pakistan” was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. In the conference, Pakistan presented the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework (4RF), which laid out a multisectoral strategy for rehabilitation and reconstruction in a climate-resilient and inclusive manner. Pakistan also sought to secure international support and forge long-term partnerships for building Pakistan’s climate resilience and adaptation.

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and the UN Secretary General, a delegation led by Prince Rahim Aga Khan and his sister Princess Zahra Aga Khan, representing the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), attended the conference that was held in Geneva at the Palais des Nations. Consistent with the Imamat and AKDN’s enduring commitment to Pakistan, and specifically climate resilience and adaptation. Prince Rahim and Princess Zahra reiterated the commitment to deepen AKDN’s numerous activities on the ground, in alignment with the 4RF and in continued collaboration with the government, communities and international partners.

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2023 (2): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends Aga Khan University’s First Ever Founder’s Day on its 40th Anniversary

On Saturday March 18, 2023, the Aga Khan University (AKU) celebrated in Karachi, Pakistan, the graduation of the Class of 2022, its first-ever Founder’s Day and the University’s 40th anniversary. Simultaneous, ceremonies were held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and broadcast online to an international audience of AKU’s friends and supporters. A total of 777 students graduated from AKU’s global campuses with diplomas and degrees in 19 fields, bringing the total number of diplomas and degrees awarded by the University to more than 19,000, including more than 4,500 in East Africa.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan attended the event in Karachi, and shared a message from Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Founder and Chancellor of the University, in which he traced the AKU’s 40-year journey from 1983 to the present, calling the University a source of hope and expressing pride in its achievements and confidence in its future.

Mawlana Hazar Imam said:

“Together, all of us are the custodians of the founding vision. Our history gives us every reason to believe that so long as we remain true to that vision, AKU’s light – the light depicted in the University’s seal – will grow ever brighter, helping to illuminate the path to a better future for the people it serves.”

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2023 (3): Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Zanzibar for Aga Khan Polyclinic Opening

To stand where we are today, and to see the Old Dispensary re-opened as a polyclinic makes me immensely proud. This isn’t just about using and improving an iconic building, but it’s about bringing 21st century cutting-edge health services to this health dispensary building and reflecting the evolution of the Aga Khan Health Services and healthcare in Tanzania — Princess Zahra Aga Khan

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Would you, Princess, kindly convey to him [His Highness the Aga Khan] this message: Karibu Sana Zanzibar…His Excellency Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar also extends his warm greetings to His Highness the Aga Khan. We would be deeply honoured to have you visit our island again — First Lady of Zanzibar

At a special event on April 25, 2023, attended by Princess Zahra, doors opened to the Aga Khan Polyclinic, Zanzibar, a big step forward for healthcare provision on the island.

The new clinic’s home is the ornate ‘Old Dispensary’ on the waterfront in Zanzibar’s historic capital, Stone Town. Originally built by the Ismaili pioneer Sir Tharia Topan in the 1880s to address local healthcare needs at the time, it operated for this very purpose until its takeover by the government in the revolution of 1964. After decades of disrepair, the ornate property was carefully restored to its former glory by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in the 1990s.

At the request of the Government of Zanzibar, the Old Dispensary is now a functioning health centre again, after being transferred to the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS). Located in the heart of Stone Town, the new clinic is designed to offer a range of services, including emergency and urgent care, enhanced diagnostics, dialysis services, and dentistry.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to His Highness the Aga Khan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan and the Aga Khan Development Network and its development partners, particularly the French Development Agency, AFD, for their ongoing efforts to support the United Republic of Tanzania in implementing our national priorities… may I take this opportunity to extend a warm invitation to His Highness the Aga Khan to visit Zanzibar in the near future. Would you, Princess, kindly convey to him this message: Karibu Sana Zanzibar…His Excellency Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar also extends his warm greetings to His Highness the Aga Khan. We would be deeply honoured to have you visit our island again.

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2023 (4): Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Kampala to Launch Construction of AKU Campus

Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni launched the construction of the Aga Khan University’s Kampala campus on Thursday, April 27, 2023, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in its history, as the University establishes a long-term future in Uganda.

The new campus, with its world-class facilities and highly-trained staff, will equip tomorrow’s health professionals with the competence and confidence to effectively lead and transform healthcare systems in the developing world. It will feature a seven-storey University Centre, a nine-storey student housing building, and the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala.

“We aim for these facilities — in collaboration with partner governments and educational institutions — to be staffed by highly-trained clinicians, equipped with the latest technologies, and prepared to address the region’s changing burden of disease. Offering care in two dozen specialties, the hospital will, Insha’Allah, provide families with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that specialist care is available here, close to home,” said Princess Zahra.

The highlight of the elegant ceremony was the plaque unveiling ceremony, performed by Princess Zahra and The Honourable First Lady, to mark the commencement of construction, followed by the Ugandan national anthem, the East African anthem, and the Nashid al-Imamah.

The Honourable First Lady expressed her wish that the project would have a significant positive impact on the population: “It is my prayer and hope,” she said, “that in the coming years through the Aga Khan Teaching Hospital Kampala, thousands of our people will receive life-saving care, making it a beacon of hope; thousands of our babies will be born in delivery rooms, making it a scene of joy; and that thousands of our young generation will receive quality education, making it a hub for personal growth and transformation.”

“It is with great pleasure,” Princess Zahra concluded, “that we all come together on this absolutely wonderful site to launch this project, which, with your help and with your support, we know will make a huge difference for Uganda, for the region, and for medical care around the world.”

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2023 (5): Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Kyrgyzstan for UCA Graduation Ceremony

On June 15, 2023, the foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev, met with Princess Zahra Aga Khan, as part of her visit to participate at the University of Central Asia’s graduation ceremony that took place at the Naryn campus on June 16. The meeting took place in Bishkek, the country’s capital.

Minister Kulubaev thanked Princess Zahra for the active work of AKDN in Kyrgyzstan in areas significant for the country and for her personal support of the activities of the University of Central Asia, which have a multiplier effect and positively influence socio-economic development of Naryn region. In turn, Princess Zahra highly appreciated the bilateral interaction within the framework of AKDN project activities in the Kyrgyz Republic and expressed AKDN readiness to strengthen its support to Kyrgyzstan in promoting ongoing socio-economic reforms.

After meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubae in Bishek, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, along with her children, Sara and Iliyan, travelled to the mountainous town of Naryn where they conversed with students, faculty members, and Time and Knowledge (TKN) volunteers at the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) Naryn campus. She also visited Naryn town, where she explored the School of Professional and Continuing Education and the Aga Khan Medical Centre.

Princess Zahra and her children also attended a luncheon hosted by the Board of Trustees, where they had an opportunity to speak with graduating students about their time at UCA and their aspirations for the future. Sara and Iliyan were also taken on a tour of the campus by Associate Dean Sohail Ashrafi and members of the graduating class. They had the opportunity to interact with students and hear stories of their experiences at UCA.

To celebrate the outstanding achievements of its students, the University hosted a student awards night, attended by Princess Zahra. The atmosphere was filled with joy and emotion, not least for the recipients who were honoured with well-deserved accolades.

On June 16, the University of Central Asia’s Class of 2023 were honoured for their achievements today, June 16, 2023, at a special convocation ceremony held at campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, and in Khorog, the capital of Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan attended the event in Naryn and in her address shared a message from her father, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the University’s Founder and Chancellor.

Princess Zahra acknowledged the students’ achievements during a rigorous few years, and encouraged graduates to look ahead to the future. She said:

“In your time at UCA, you forged friendships that will last a lifetime….You acquired a new sense of who you are and what you are capable of. You tried and failed, tried again and succeeded, and felt the wind of confidence fill your sails and propel you toward new tests and trials.”

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Princess Zahra also shared a message from Mawlana Hazar Imam who underlined the challenges that Central Asia and the wider world faces today, including new forms of artificial intelligence, climate change, and globalisation. UCA has helped to prepare graduates to tackle these challenges, he said.

“In my eyes, you embody promise,” Hazar Imam’s message read. “The promise of a new generation, alive to new ways of collaborating, communicating, and thinking; and the promise of a new university, alert to emerging problems and eager to identify new opportunities to serve its countries. Born as the University of Central Asia was first taking shape, you are as young as the University itself. Equally bright futures lie ahead of you and your alma mater.” 

“My wish,” Hazar Imam’s message concluded, “is that you will both continue to draw strength and inspiration from one another for many, many decades to come.

Video of Graduation Ceremony, with address delivered by Princess Zahra Aga Khan

Please click on the white arrow on the centre of screen — red block — to start watching the video and not on the YouTube button shown at bottom left. Princess Zahra’s speech in above video commences at approximately the 28:30 minute mark. Her reading of the message from Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, who is the Founder and Chancellor of the University, begins at the 34:10 minute mark.

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2023 (6): Princess Zahra Aga Khan Welcomes Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism to the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat

The Tanzanian daily, The Citizen, reported that Princess Zahra Aga Khan met Minister Simai Mohamed on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon. The visit came on the heels of Princess Zahra’s visit to Zanzibar in May 2023 to inaugurate a Polyclinic. Minister Said was accompanied by Mr. Rahim Bhaloo, Chairman of Zanzibar Commission of Tourism. Present also at the meeting was Mr. Nazim Ahmad. During the meeting Princess Zahra and her guests discussed a wide range of issues which included the activities and presence of the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network in Zanzibar. They also explored areas of cooperation in fields such as education, culture and other programmes which they described as the core foundation of improvement of the quality of life of populations.

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September 18, 2023: A Very Happy Birthday to Princess Zahra

Flowers to the Princess from the City of Calgary, Alberta

Date posted: September 17, 2023.
Last updated: September 18, 2023.

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