NEWS: Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Sherry Rehman, on Friday
made a stirring call for unity in the ranks of Pakistani community
member here to help meet the challenges their homeland faces.
The top Pakistani diplomat made the call at a largely-attended dinner
event organized by the Pakistan League of USA, a non-political body of
professionals, at which she was honoured with the League's "Woman of the
Year" award. Over 400 Pakistani-Americans from various walks of life
attended the event marking the Independence Day and Eid-ul-fitre.
"I thank you ... I'm deeply honoured," Ambassador Rehman said,
holding up the plaque as loud applause rang out in the banquet hall of a
local hotel. A citation described Ambassador Rehman as a "great
parliamentarian, writer and a diplomat". Ambassador Rehman, who has been
in the forefront of the struggle for women's rights, dedicated her
award to the women of Pakistan, especially her mother and Mohtarma
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
Also honoured with the League's 2012 lifetime achievement award was
Amir Khan, a British professional boxer of Pakistani origin who is a
former two-time world champion and former unified WBA (Super) and IBF
Light Welterweight champion. The ex-champion was given a standing
ovation.
The league president, Zafar Iqbal Sipra, welcomed the ambassador and
other guests, which included PML-N MNA Rana Tanveer, and briefed them on
the aims and objects of the organization while Chairman Shahid Gondal
stressed that it was non-political body. The proceedings were
conducted by Shafiq Siddiqui, general secretary of the league. Sipra and
other speakers also praised the efficient services being provided to
the community members by the Pakistani Consulate in New York under the
leadership of Consul General Fakir Asif Hussain, who was also present at
the dinner.
In her keynote speech, Ambassador Rehman called on the community
members to sink their differences and work unitedly to promote the
interest of their homeland in the United States and in forging good
relations between people of America and Pakistan.
She also urged them to take an active part in the American politics
in this election season and "multiply your power and influence" here,
and become game-changers. "You have to overcome your differences .. and
you have to have a dream," the Pakistani envoy added.
In this context, Ambassador Rehman encouraged the community to be
proactive and engage widely with American public officials, including
members of Congress, Senators and local politicians in order to clear
misperceptions that exist about Pakistan in the minds of Americans.
As a front-line state fighting terrorism and extremism, 43,000
Pakistanis had lost their lives and the country suffered over $78
billion in lost opportunities and infrastructure damages.
About the situation in Pakistan, she said a great transformation was
taking place as the country was marking the first-ever peaceful
democratic transition.
"It is the first time that a civilian elected government had
completed its term," she said, adding that the country's media was
playing a dynamic role.
She also said that the current Parliament had passed more laws to
protect and promote women's rights that any legislature in the past. The
Ambassador also elaborated on the outreach programme of the Embassy of
Pakistan in Washington aimed at keeping the community informed of
developments in Pakistan and Pakistan-US relations and invited
suggestions from the community on how to improve services.
Among the other award winner at the event was Masood Haider of Dawn.
Earlier, the Pakistan ambassador met another group of Pakistani
community members at the Long Island residence of Shafqat Tanweer,
President of Pakistan People's Party, who hosted a lunch for her.
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