Some say it was the inspiration for Shangri-La in James Hilton’s famous novel “Lost Horizon” but by all accounts Karimabad, in the Hunza Valley, is said to be one of the most idyllic spots in Pakistan. According to the Washington Post, the mountainous town is an “oasis of tolerance, security, and good schools.”
Prince Karim Al Husseini, a billionaire philanthropist and a spiritual leader, is a major benefactor of the Hunza Valley, and says this about the importance of gender equal education: “If a man has two children, one boy and one girl, you should educate the daughter first. Because, when she is educated, she can educate her entire family.” The literacy rates are high, especially for the region, and many even know English.
“We are true believers of pluralism,” says Nazim Aman, a local school principal. “We believe you, yourself, have to be authentic. We believe in diversity. We value social justice. We love nature, and you must develop that sense for survival.”
