Expressing his gratitude, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh praised Senator Hurtado for her leadership. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening people-to-people ties and building on the current positive trajectory of Pakistan-US bilateral relations
California State Senate Unanimously Passes Historic Resolution Celebrating Pakistan-US Relations
By Elaine Pasquini
Sacramento, CA: The California State Senate unanimously passed Resolution SR125 on August 11, 2026, celebrating the enduring relationship between Pakistan and the United States, while recognizing the significant contributions of the Pakistani-American diaspora to California’s economy, culture, and social fabric.
Presented by Senator Melissa Hurtado, the resolution highlighted the pivotal role played by Pakistani Americans in California and commended their achievements across diverse fields. It urged all Californians to join in celebrating the friendly relations between the two nations.
The passage of Resolution SR125 coincided with an official visit by Ambassador Sheikh to California, during which he interacted with state lawmakers to strengthen economic and political engagement.
Expressing his gratitude, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, praised Senator Hurtado for her leadership. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening people-to-people ties and building on the current positive trajectory of Pakistan-US bilateral relations.
The California State Assembly also resolved to promote relations between Pakistan and the State of California, along with the contributions of Pakistani-American businesses and investors in advancing economic cooperation between Pakistan and California. Assemblymember Matt Haney presented declarations recognizing and acknowledging the achievements of Ambassador Sheikh in promoting bilateral ties between the two nations.
In a meeting with Senator Eloise Gomez, Ambassador Sheikh discussed opportunities to expand trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. Senator Gomez commended Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability. During the meeting, Ambassador Sheikh extended an official invitation to Senator Gomez to visit Pakistan.
Dr Imran Sharief, chairman of the Council of Pakistan, who contributed efforts to pass the resolution, hosted a luncheon in honor of Ambassador Sheikh. Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva and Matt Haney were in attendance along with Mubashar Khan of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Los Angeles. The group’s discussions focused on key aspects of bilateral cooperation, with the Ambassador extending invitations to both legislators to visit Pakistan to further enhance bilateral collaboration across key sectors.
The Council of Pakistan is a community-based, non-profit organization that works to unite the Pakistani-American community and promote people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the United States
Enriched by the contributions of Pakistani Americans, California, known as “The Golden State,” continues to thrive as a global economic powerhouse and a hub of cultural diversity.
(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington
