Kabul, 21 December 2013 — His Highness the Aga Khan discussed development issues in high-level meetings in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. The Aga Khan met with the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, as well as ministers and senior officials of the Government of Afghanistan.

President Karzai expressed appreciation for His Highness the Aga Khan’s personal interests in and efforts towards the social and economic development of Afghanistan, citing the impact of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in education, health, poverty alleviation, economic development and improvement in quality of life. The Aga Khan reinforced the commitment of the Ismaili Imamat and AKDN to Afghanistan and appreciated the support of and partnership with the Government of Afghanistan.

The Aga Khan Development Network began working in Afghanistan in the late 1990s, providing food aid and a range of livelihood and support services to Afghans both in country as well as refugees who had fled their homes as a result of the conflict.

AKDN has channeled more than USD $900 million toward Afghanistan's economic, social, and cultural reconstruction through partnerships with the Afghan government as well as international organisations and donors. AKDN programmes encompass large-scale rural development; health, education, governance and civil society programmes, including Afghanistan's National Solidarity Programme; the rehabilitation of historic neighbourhoods in Kabul and Herat; the management and operations of a paediatric hospital and two provincial hospitals; an extensive network of financial and micro finance services; a rapidly growing mobile phone network with innovative investments in corporate social responsibility; and, a five-star hotel in Kabul.

For more information, please contact:

Semin Abdulla
Aga Khan Development Network
Email: info@akdn.org