GILGIT: Aga Khan Prince Rahim al-Hussaini, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, has assured the Gilgit-Baltistan government that Ismaili institutions and agencies will continue to assist in recovery efforts following the recent floods and help build resilience against future disasters.
In a letter addressed to GB Chief Minister Gulbar Khan on Aug 20, the Aga Khan expressed “heartfelt sympathy for the devastating losses suffered by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan as a result of the recent flash floods and related disasters.”
He noted with sorrow the loss of volunteers near Gilgit who died while working to restore water supply infrastructure. “I pray that their souls may rest in eternal peace, and that the bereaved families may have the strength to bear their immense loss,” he wrote.
Referring to the chief minister’s earlier request for assistance on July 24, Prince Rahim said the Ismaili Imamat had, since the time of his great-grandfather Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, sought to contribute to the progress of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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“This region remains close to my heart, and I assure you that the institutions and agencies of the Ismaili Imamat will continue to support the government and local communities to recover from the recent damages as well as to build resilience to face future challenges,” the letter said.
The Aga Khan further stated that relief and rehabilitation efforts would be guided by surveys of the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) along with assessments by Ismaili institutions. He added that the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) would mobilise its expertise to meet immediate humanitarian needs while strengthening local disaster preparedness.
Prince Rahim expressed hope that the combined efforts of the government, communities and AKDN would help ease the suffering of the affected population.
