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President Jacques Chirac of France honoured the President
of Aga Khan University, Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, by conferring the
title of Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite (Officer of the
National Order of Merit). One
of the highest civil awards of France, the title recognized Dr. Kassim-Lakha's "... tireless and fruitful contribution in the service of Pakistan
and in the field of education."
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| The French Ambassador, His Excellency
Yannick Gerard (left) with Mrs. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha and Dr. Shamsh
Kassim-Lakha, S.I., President, AKU |
At a formal ceremony at his official residence in Islamabad,
the French Ambassador, His Excellency Yannick Gerard, presented the award
on behalf of President Chirac, stating that it was a prestigious honour. Granted very occasionally to citizens of Pakistan,
Dr. Kassim-Lakha is only the fourth recipient of the award since
1968. Referring to his accomplishments,
Ambassador Gerard recognized Dr. Kassim-Lakha's "... selfless services which have been
nationally and internationally recognized.
Symbol of hope, relief and life for the suffering humanity, Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi is testimony to the vision, the
determination and the dedication to mankind of His Highness the Aga Khan
and all those who work under his direction for social welfare."
Addressing an audience of federal and provincial ministers,
foreign diplomats and leading academics, industrialists and opinion makers,
Dr. Kassim-Lakha acknowledged the award as an honour for the people of
Pakistan. He said, "It is
an honour for my country that France, with its strong tradition of culture
and heritage, and its important and central position in Europe, should
recognise the efforts of those who strive to enhance the quality of life
in Pakistan, often under trying conditions."
In 1998, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
awarded Dr. Kassim-Lakha the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of the country's highest
civil awards, in recognition of his sustained and eminent services in
the fields of education and health care.
Earlier, Canada's McMaster University recognised his contributions
to health education with the conferring of an honorary Doctor of Laws
degree.
Dr. Kassim-Lakha's career in social development and higher
education spans four decades. Under
the direction and vision of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, he led
the overall planning, construction and now operation of Aga Khan University
(AKU), chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private, international university. He has spearheaded long term institutional
relationships with national and international agencies, world renowned
universities and major international foundations, and with the numerous
institutions of Aga Khan Development Network, of which AKU is a component.
In the international field of education, Dr. Kassim-Lakha
and the Minister of Education for Tajikistan were appointed co-Chairs
of a commission to study the establishment of a regional university in
Central Asia. A treaty signed
last year between the Presidents of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz
Republic and His Highness the Aga Khan has now established the University
of Central Asia. It will provide specialised higher education
for people of mountainous societies.
Prior to becoming AKU's president, Dr. Kassim-Lakha was
Managing Director of Industrial Promotion Services, Pakistan. He has served on numerous boards of governmental,
professional and research organizations, including the Pakistan Medical
Research Council, as well as senior governmental advisory panels in such
areas as finance, environment protection, energy, health and education. Appointed by the Government of Pakistan, he
is a director of Habib Bank, the country's largest financial institution,
and was this year appointed co-chairman of the Government's Task Force
for the Improvement of Higher
Education. He was appointed by the Governor of Sindh to
be a member of the Economic Development Council for Karachi, and is Chairman
of the Board of the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy.
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