The ambassador commended the growing political influence of the Pakistani community in the United States, noting that their active engagement in the American political process would further strengthen US-Pakistan relations
Pakistani Americans Will Benefit from Stronger US-Pakistan Relations
By Elaine Pasquini
Washington: “The doors of the Pakistani Embassy are open to community initiatives that contribute to the development and progress of our homeland,” Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, told a group gathered at the embassy on October 1, 2024. Stressing that the embassy’s full resources, both infrastructure and manpower, are available to support the community, he cited past examples where he and his staff facilitated minority Pakistani community members in organizing successful programs at the embassy.
“Pakistan is our identity,” he said, speaking at an event organized by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) at the Jamshed Marker Hall in the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC. “None of us would have been here today if Pakistan didn’t exist.” Noting that all individuals residing in the US will always be recognized as Pakistani Americans, the ambassador emphasized that it is everyone’s responsibility to work together for the development of Pakistan, setting aside personal affiliations and priorities.
Ambassador Sheikh pointed out that the United States is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and stressed that strengthening relations between the two longtime allies, particularly in economic terms, will directly benefit the Pakistani-American community. He urged the populace to play an active role in cementing this partnership, saying, “I want to work with the Pakistani community to ensure that mutual Pak-US interests are realized.” He also encouraged individuals from various sectors to contribute to reinforcing bilateral ties.
The ambassador commended the growing political influence of the Pakistani community in the United States, noting that their active engagement in the American political process would further strengthen US-Pakistan relations.
Earlier, Syed Qamar Raza, Chairman of the OPF Board of Governors, addressed the gathering, outlining the foundation’s services for expatriates and its future initiatives. He shared that he was diligently working to steer the institution in a new direction, focusing on delivering improved services to overseas Pakistanis and their families, and ensuring the swift resolution of their concerns.
Chairman Raza announced the expansion of the OPF’s Advisory Council from 15 to 200 members, to foster inclusivity and ensure the involvement of all sectors in Pakistan’s development. He stressed the importance of unity among the community, transcending political, linguistic, and other affiliations, for the nation’s progress.
In his closing remarks, Syed Qamar Raza called for the community’s full cooperation in advancing the OPF’s goals, particularly in doubling the current foreign remittance exchequer of $32 billion.
The event also featured speeches from prominent community leaders, including Jawad Shirazi, Asad Chaudhry, Ayesha Khan, and Mazhar Chughtai.
(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)
