Pak-American Groups
Invited to Join Rapid-Response-Network
By Hazem Kira
Newark, CA. 11/04/05 – The Pakistan
American National Alliance (PANA), a US-wide coalition of
grassroots organizations, has invited all interested Pakistani
and Pakistani-American organizations to join PANA-Rapid-Response-Network.
This e-mail-cum-conference-call network is designed to ensure
immediate communication, prompt consultation and timely
coordination on the basis of “unity of purpose and
division of labor”.
It is free, instant, efficient and effective.
Most recently 18 Pak-American and Muslim-American groups
had joined hands to call for quake awareness rallies on
the day of Eid. Most of the signatories to this initiative
were PANA members.
However, joining the PANA-Rapid-Response-Network by itself
does not constitute a membership of PANA, which is premised
on a clear and public support for restoration of full democracy
in Pakistan. The PANA-Rapid-Response-Network is a vehicle
to facilitate auto-coordination among activist groups on
a project-by-project basis.
The following groups had recently come together to help
refocus media attention on the unfolding tragedy in Pakistan
and to keep it alive in public consciousness: American Muslim
Alliance (AMA); American Muslim Society of Pennsylvania,
New Jersey and Delaware (AMSPND); Association of Physicians
of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA); Coalition
of Pakistani Organizations of Chicago (COPC); Council of
Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC); Human
Development Foundation (HDF); Pakistan American Democratic
Forum (PADF); Pakistan Association of Greater Washington
(PAGW); Pakistan Association of Long Island (PALI); Pakistan
Association of New York Capital District (PANCD); Pakistan
Association of Riverside (PARS); Pakistan Association of
San Francisco Bay Area (PASBA); Pakistan Community Association
of New Orleans (PCANO); Pakistan Cultural Association of
Staten Island, Inc. (PCASII); Pakistan League of America
(PLA); Pakistani American Council of Texas (PACT); Pakistan-US
Freedom Forum (PUFF); and Strategic Research Forum (SRF).
By joining the PANA-Rapid-Response-Network an activist Pakistani
or Pakistani-American group can:
1. Regularly communicate and interact with other Pak-American
activist groups.
2. Compare notes, share information, and pool ideas with
other like-minded activists and organizations.
3. Get instant feedback, input and urgently needed information.
4. Stay abreast of the work being done by other groups and
avoid duplications.
5. Publicize their own projects and activities to most active
Pakistani-Americans.
6. Coordinate activities with other groups on a project-by-project
basis.
7. Provide mutual support and help sustain commitment to
long-term relief effort.
8. Build and sustain unity in the community.
9. Strengthen civilian institutions and the NGO participation
in the rebuilding effort.
Those organizations seeking to join the PANA-Rapid-Response-Network
should either send an email to PANA2100@YAHOO.COM or call
(510) 299 – 9313.
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