Kaushik Basu, World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, speaking at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe. Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for Tajikistan

5 April 2013 — Kaushik Basu, the World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, addressed the topic of what can be done to solve the problem of extreme poverty during a lecture held at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe.

Mr Basu noted that determination, passion and commitment alone are not sufficient to to eradicate extreme poverty. These qualities have to be combined “with knowledge, with professionalism, with research” in order to make substantial progress towards poverty alleviation.

Although Tajikistan has seen a substantial drop in the level of poverty — from 80 per cent of the population living below $2 per day in 1999 down to less than 24 per cent in 2012 according to the World Bank — the issue remains critical. The event drew numerous representatives of government, international and civil society agencies, the media as well as university scholars.

The class of 2013 from the UCA School of Professional and Continuing Education and Aga Khan Humanities Project at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe. UCA / Amir Isaev

21 September 2013 — More than 200 graduates of the University of Central Asia were awarded their certificates at a ceremony held at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe today. The University’s fifth graduation ceremony recognized student from the Aga Khan Humanities Project and the School of Professional and Continuing Education.

20 November 2014 — The Ambassador of Canada, Mr Shawn Steil, and the Ambassador of Australia, Mr Paul Andrew Myler, accredited to Tajikistan, visited the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe and met with the AKDN Resident Representative, Mr Akbar Pesnani, and the Vice-President of the Ismaili Council for Tajikistan, Mr Muzaffar Djorubov. During their visit the ambassadors received a tour of the Ismaili Centre and learnt about its architecture and activities as well as the work of the Aga Khan Development Network.

Dushanbe, 6–7 December 2014 — The Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe hosted the 4th Winter Handicraft fair and International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which brought together more than 50 artisans presenting Tajik national crafts from various regions of the country. Organised by the Union of Craftsmen of Tajikistan in partnership with Cesvi, Handicap International, UNICEF, and the Bactria Cultural Centre, the fair included free master classes in embroidery, textile, painting and decoration, as well as music performances, film showings, and performances by persons with disabilities.

Dushanbe, 3 December 2014 — A national conference on tourism development in Tajikistan, organised by the Committee on Youth, Sports and Tourism under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, was held at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe. The conference brought together over 80 representatives of relevant ministries and departments, travel agencies and tour operators from across the country. A presentation on the Ismaili Centre was made by the Executive Officer of the Centre, and it was resolved that tour agencies would include the Ismaili Centre in their Dushanbe sightseeing tours.

Dushanbe, 1 December 2016 — The Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe hosted a screening of the award-winning film Mushkilkusho, which was named as the Best Tajik Film at the 2016 Didor International Festival.

Directed and produced by acclaimed Tajik film maker Umedsho Mirzoshirinov, the film is unique for its use of Pamiri languages, which are listed as endangered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“Mushkilkusho,” which means overcoming challenges in life, tells the story of a Pamiri girl, who falls in love with a musician in Moscow, where she has travelled in search of a better life. The film illustrates the hardships faced by Tajik labour migrants in Russia, including cultural misconceptions and the clash between traditional and modern lifestyles, as well as the beauty of Pamiri culture and languages.

It topped a list of some 80 films entered in the festival from former Soviet republics, Persian-speaking nations, as well as Germany, India, Mongolia, Sweden and the United States of America.

Upon receiving the prize, Mirzoshirinov said that he wants to produce more Pamiri language movies that touch upon social problems facing people in the region. In this way, he hopes to make a personal contribution towards preserving the Pamiri languages.