Inauguration of Professional Development Centre in Gilgit

On October 19, 2000, His Highness the Aga Khan inaugurated the Professional Development Centre Northern Areas (PDC-N) in Gilgit. The function was attended by their Excellencies Abbas Sarfaraz Khan, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, Kurt Juul, Ambassador European Commission and  the French Ambassador, Yannick Gerard.

Professional Development Centre Northern Areas, Gilgit

Also present were Chief Secretary, Northern Areas, Sang-e­Mar Jan, Deputy Chief Executive, Northern Areas, Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad along with military officials, dignitaries and distinguished citizens of the area.

The PDC-N is a collaborative partnership between Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan (AKES,P) and Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-­lED). It was developed with generous support from the European Commission and Aga Khan Foundation.

The 26,500 square feet facility spread over 3.5 acres will train in-service school teachers from the private and public sectors, in the remote valleys of the North. It aims to provide high quality classroom-based training to teacher educators, educational managers and instructional leaders. In his Convocation 2000 address, His Highness the Aga Khan highlighted that "AKU-IED's involvement with the Centre is a critical form of outreach and also furthers its efforts to contribute to the development of women professionals."