Culture & Heritage

First Visit of The Ismaili Imam to Hunza

The people of Hunza accepted Ismaili faith during 1823 during the reign of Mir Saleem Khan II by paying Bayath (promise of loyalty) on the hands of Ismaili Pirs (saints) from Central Asia. Since then the Ismaili community of Hunza through different indirect channels get the messages of their Imams (spiritual leaders). The 49th spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan for the first time paid visit to the Ismaili Community of Northern Areas of Pakistan. In this regard He met with the community of Hunza on October 23, 1960. During this visit He for the first time directly witnessed the socio-economic conditions of the Ismaili community of Northern Areas. After this visit He opened the door of different development organizations to this region. The elders still witness His visit and regard this as a turning point for the region. After this visit the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) started operations in health, education and later on Rural Development. During 1960 there was hardly some primary passed people in all over Hunza. Now Hunza is enjoying the highest literacy rate in all over Pakistan. People were subsisting on subsistence agriculture and were facing acute shortage of food. Now the local people are helping people in other regions to get rid of poverty.

Mir of Hunza accompanying Hazir Imam during first Didar

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