TORONTO, Oct 14: A group of 260 Canadian professionals will contribute 5.2 million dollars to establish a Performing Arts Centre at the Aga Khan University in Karachi.

The group comprising doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, architects and other professionals announced their pledge at a well-attended dinner organized here on Wednesday by the Aga Khan University Resource Development Committee for Ontario, Canada.

Toronto s noted cardiologist and spokesman for the group Dr Amir Janmohamed told newsmen after the dinner that the Arts Centre project was a gift from Canadian professionals who see value in building cultural and academic bridges with the developing world. "I think, it will also be a small step to fostering world peace and understanding," he said.

Earlier, in a keynote address, President of the Aga Khan university Shamsh Kassim-Lakha said that since its inception the university had benefited greatly form its close ties with Canadians and Canadian institutions which provided financial assistance of $22 million in the past few years.