Bishkek, 2 November 2014 — Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic this evening for a four day visit to review Aga Khan Development Network activities in the country. He was received on behalf of the government by the Kyrgyz Minister of Education, Kanat Sadykov. The head of the AKDN Representation in Kyrgyzstan, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha was joined by AKDN Representative for Tajikistan, Akbar Pesnani, and President of the Ismaili Council for Tajikstan, Sharofat Mamadambarova, to welcome Hazar Imam on behalf of the AKDN institutions and the Jamat.

Naryn, 3 November 2014 — As Chancellor of the University of Central Asia (UCA), Mawlana Hazar Imam visited the university's Naryn campus, the first of three new undergraduate campuses spread across the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

The Naryn campus includes an academic block, residential dormitories and international standard sports facilities. Accompanied by Kyrgyzstan’s Minister for Education Kanat Sadykov, Naryn Governor Amanbay Kayipov, Mayor Rakhat Adiyev, the Akim of the Naryn rayon Tugolbai Zhanboev, and university leaders, Mawlana Hazar Imam toured the first phase of construction.

Bishkek, 4 November 2014 — In a series of high-level meetings in Bishkek, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Kyrgyz President, His Excellency Almazbek Atambayev, Speaker of the Parliament Asylbek Sharypovich Jeenbekov and Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbaev to discuss cooperation between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Aga Khan Development Network.

Opportunities for enhanced avenues of collaboration were central to their discussions, owing to the strong relations that exist between AKDN and the Kyrgyz government. Areas of mutual interest include the social, economic, cultural, education and health sectors.

Mawlana Hazar Imam briefed the leadership on progress of AKDN initiatives, including the construction of the University of Central Asia’s Naryn campus in advance of the university’s opening in 2016.

Bishkek, 5 November 2014 — On the final day of his Kyrgyz visit, Mawlana Hazar Imam attended a reception hosted by the head of the Aga Khan Development Network Representation for the Kyrgyz Republic, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha. Diplomats and representatives of international development organisations with whom AKDN collaborates were also present at the Ala Archa official state residence, where the event took place.

Following the reception, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Foreign Minister, Erlan Abdyldayev. Later, the Minister of Education, Kanat Sadykov, and leaders of the AKDN institutions in Kyrgyzstan bade farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam as he departed the country.