$40 Million Canadian
Aid for Pakistan: Soomro
A Pakistan Link Report
Left
to right: Pakistan Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro,
Safi Qureshey and Wasi Qureshey |
Tustin, CA: Canada is to give
$40 million aid to Pakistan for the rescue and rehabilitation
of the October 8 2005 earthquake victims. This was disclosed
by Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro in an interview with
Pakistan Link at the residence of leading IT entrepreneur
Mr. Safi Qureshey, CEO of Quartics, Inc., who has recently
won accolades for his pioneering role in the ongoing PC-to-TV
Revolution.
Mr. Soomro appeared in a buoyant mood as he shared impressions
of his visit to Canada and the US. He met high-ranking government
officials in both countries, including US Attorney General,
Secretary Commerce, Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy
and Public Affairs, interfaith groups, and prominent Pakistani-American
groups.
The discussions with the Canadian and US officials focused
primarily on interfaith dialogue, Pakistan’s role
in the war on terror, liberal grant of visa to Pakistani
students, withdrawal of travel advisory against visiting
Pakistan, and knotty immigration problems confronting Pakistani
settlers in Canada and the US. He exhorted concerned officials
to encourage people of Canadian and US origin to visit Pakistan
in greater number so that the country’s fledgling
tourism industry could receive a much-needed boost. Mr.
Soomro appeared optimistic that if visiting students from
the US and Canada could stay with families in Pakistan for
extended periods, misperceptions about the country that
continue to linger could be effectively dispelled.
Later, addressing members of the Pakistani-American community
present at Mr. Safi Qureshey’s residence, the Senate
Chairman observed, “You are the bridge between Pakistan
and the US. Each one of you is an ambassador of the country.”
He paid tributes to the Pakistanis who have made the United
States their home and have “made their mark in various
fields.” He urged community members to visit Pakistan
more frequently, invest in various uplift ventures, and
play an active role in strengthening the country’s
economy. He commended several Pakistani-American organizations,
including APPNA, HDF, SQF, DIL, at al. for their role in
improving the lot of under-privileged Pakistanis living
in the rural areas of Pakistan.
Mr. Soomro proudly described the Pakistani society as both
tolerant and moderate. He specifically mentioned the post-Gujrat-carnage
conditions in the year 2002 when the Hindu minority in Pakistan
lived without fear of any reprisal from the Muslim majority.
Concluding his speech, Mr. Soomro thanked Mr. Safi Qureshey,
Major (Retd.) Wasi Qureshey, Shahid Rokerya, and Dr Nazir
Khaja and their families for the hospitality extended to
him during his stay in Los Angeles.
Speaking on the occasion, eminent religious scholar Dr Muzammil
Siddiqi urged the community members to have more interfaith
contacts to convey the true message of Islam to mainstream
Americans. He mentioned the ‘open mosque day’
initiative initiated recently to facilitate the visit of
hundreds of non-Muslim Americans to mosques and Islamic
centers across the length and breadth of the US. He lauded
President Musharraf’s concept of enlightened moderation
and said it should be implemented in earnest, both at the
philosophical and practical levels.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Safi Qureshey paid tributes
to Mr. Soomro for “his humility and values.”
Today is “a special day, and we have very special
people here,” he remarked. By his deportment and demeanor,
Mr. Soomro did appear a very special individual.
Pictures
above were taken at the dinner hosted by Mr. and Mrs.
Safi Qureshey in honor of Pakistan Senate Chairman
Mohammadmian Soomro at their Tustin residence on Sunday,
October 22 2006. |
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