November 9, 2002	Saturday	Ramazan 3,1423

KABUL, Nov 8: Enabling governance structures, focused economic development, sensitive urban revitalization, mutually supportive regional policies and a strong social service infrastructure were key topics in discussions held here over the past two days between the Aga Khan and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Vice Presidents Hedayat Amin Arsala and Karim Khalili.

The Aga Khan was also present at the inauguration of the constitution committee, presided over by Afghanistan’s former King Zaher Shah.

During his visit to Kabul, the Aga Khan visited sites with potential for urban redevelopment expected to contribute towards increased economic opportunity for the city and which are significant to the nation’s heritage.

The sites included the Bagh-i-Babur, a terraced and walled open space containing the tomb of the Emperor Babur and featuring the remains of what was the first Mughal “Paradise Garden” and the predecessor of many famous imperial gardens in the Sub-continent.

Since March this year, the Aga Khan Trust for culture has led a project involving the Afghan ministry of culture, UNESCO and the German government to redevelop the garden as a major open space and to rehabilitate neighbourhood residential dwellings and public sanitation facilities.