Physicians & Non-Physicians
Attend APPNA Dinner in Phoenix
By Yousuf Bhavad
Pictures
above: Glimpses of the APPNA dinner in Phoenix
|
The APPNA fall banquet
2007 was hosted on October 20, 2007 at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio
Cliff Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. A large number of doctors
of Pakistani origin from all over the US attended the event
along with a big number of non-physicians from the local community.
The program started with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an
followed by its brief translation. Asim Khawaja welcomed the
guests and thanked volunteers on the host committee for their
help in organizing this colorful event. Dr. Nadeem Kazi, president
of APPNA, highlighted the accomplishments of the association
in the last 30 years. He elaborated on how the missions of
APPNA changed over the years with new initiatives and challenges
posed by natural disasters in Indonesia and Pakistan . He
outlined the new goals and missions for the next several years.
Dr. Saeed Khan, founder and senior research fellow, Institute
of Social Policy and Understanding and lecturer in the Department
of Near East and Asian Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit
Michigan was the keynote speaker. He focused on the continued
challenges facing South Asian Muslims in the years ahead.
Muslim youths in England are going through an identity crisis.
While similar circumstances may not exist here in US, we cannot
be complacent. He emphasized on taking initiatives now no
matter how small they are. The key message was to reach out,
make alliances, engage with the community at large and educate
the masses.
Dinner was served after the keynote speech. During the course
of the dinner past and present members of APPNA were for their
contributions. Dinner over, the Qawwali program started. Zaman
Zaki Taji Qawwal and his group presented a unique combination
of Sufiana poetry along with ghazals in the Qawwali style.
The Qawwali concluded with a very emotional “Lal Meri
Pat…” moving the audience who spiritedly dashed
to the front to join the traditional Mast Qalander dance.
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