Mr. Sadiq mentioned
the infighting between different groups
in the community but described the squabbles
as a healthy trend: “Such communities are
also dynamic and deliver. We don’t have
to stop fighting but on core issues we must
unite,” he made the edifying remark.
Mr. Sadiq was
visibly in an upbeat mood and informed the
gathering of a “quantum change” in the working
of the Embassy in Washington. “Ninety percent
of consular work is now done through mail
and people don’t have to come to us,” he
said. The Embassy also maintains a regular
rapport with the community across the length
and breadth of the United States through
its mass email system. Its website is the
second most visited website after Dawn and
receives 8000 hits everyday. Not surprisingly,
the Embassy has been approached by Dell
and other advertisers to post their ads
on the website.
The Charge d’Affaires
also referred to the Embassy’s successes
following the formation of the Pakistan
Congressional Caucus in Washington. In a
short span of two-and-a-half months the
Caucus enjoys the support of 56 Congressmen.
Normally, it takes years to reach this figure.
“Still, Congressmen are signing up. Hope
to have 100 Caucus members soon,” he informed.
He also mentioned
several initiatives taken by the Embassy
to testify to the ‘quantum’ change mentioned
by him earlier. An ‘Internship Program’
has been launched. The interns are groomed
as prospective leaders as they accompany
Embassy officials to various meetings held
at the Hill with Congressmen. They draft
minutes, undertake research, and study important
issues relating to US-Pakistan ties.
Following the
Internship Program, the Embassy has launched
PSA - a national organization of Pakistan
students associations. The first PSA meeting
in Washington was attended by 29 chapters
of the organization.
Suave and blend,
Mr. Sadiq impressed the gathering with his
off-the-cuff remarks. Rightly, he was described
as “a resource that would produce positive
results” by Ledtronics CEO Pervaiz Lodhie.
We are now in the process of seeing a new
breed of Foreign Service Officers. Consul
General Jadmani seemed to provide a hint
when he made his debut in Los Angeles. Mr
Sadiq furnishes fresh proof of the wholesome
trend.
