Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, 26 October 2021 – In the Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, foundations have been laid for two state-of-the-art Aga Khan higher secondary schools in Gupis and Yasin, promising continuity of quality education through Grade 12 for thousands of students in the region.

The two schools – Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Gupis, and Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Yasin – will have a combined capacity for more than 1,200 students in a single shift. This will greatly improve educational opportunities in the area, not only for the 11,000 students who are currently studying in more than 40 Aga Khan high schools in the region, but also those studying in other schools.

The land for the schools, about 30,350 m2 for Yasin and 12,650 m2 for Gupis, has been donated by the local communities. The seismic-resistant buildings will incorporate elements of green design focused on working with the local environment and terrain and be geared towards sustainability and longevity.

The schools have been designed keeping in view the changing landscape of education, with a focus on encouraging inquiry, experimentation and innovation in the students. In addition to spacious smart classrooms with Internet connectivity, the schools will have separate laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology, an e-library, multipurpose halls, auxiliary spaces and enclosed corridors for interactive learning, and sports facilities across a total area covering more than 5,570 m2.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, chief guest Minister for Education for Gilgit-Baltistan, Raja Muhammad Azam Khan, lauded the Aga Khan Schools for promoting accessible and quality education. He said that the new schools promise a brighter future for the young people of the region.

President of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan, Hafiz Sherali, a guest of honour, expressed the hope that students from these schools will qualify for top-ranking national and international colleges and universities, and become change agents in their communities.

For more information please contact:

Karim Hasan at [email protected]