Prince Karim Aga Khan to visit Gilgit today

GILGIT - Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili community, will arrive in Gilgit-Baltistan today (Sunday) on a day-long visit.

He will attend Darbars at Ghizer and Hunza where his followers will see him, local media reported while quoting Gilgit-Baltistan Home office sources.

He will be accorded a warm welcome by Governor Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez Ur Rehman, cabinet members and high officials at Gilgit airport.

Around 60,000 followers had gathered at Garum Chasma and 80,000 in Booni to listen to their spiritual leader. The spiritual leader of the Ismaili community said that he had a strong bond with Chitral and was aware of the problems of the area.

Earlier, Member National Assembly Shahzada Iftikharuddin, District Nazim Maghfirat Shah, and government officials received Prince Karim Aga Khan at the Chitral airport.

He was scheduled to reach Chitral on a military C-130 plane. However, his arrival was delayed by three hours due to the inclement weather and he reached the district via helicopter.

Aga Khan arrived in Islamabad on Thursday evening on the invitation of the Pakistani government. His visit is part of a series of tours that coincides with the commemoration of his Diamond Jubilee, beginning earlier this year on July 11.

The Ismailis live in over 25 different countries, mainly in Central and South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as in Europe, North America, and Australia.