Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, reaffirmed that the doors of the Embassy of Pakistan remain open to positive community initiatives aimed at advancing the motherland’s development and progress. He stressed that the embassy’s full resources, both infrastructure and manpower, are available to support the community. Citing past examples where minority Pakistani community members were facilitated in organizing successful events at the embassy, he assured that such efforts will continue.
Speaking at an event organized by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) at the Jamshed Marker Hall in the Embassy of Pakistan Washington D.C., Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh stated, “Pakistan is our identity. None of us would have been here today if Pakistan didn’t exist.” He emphasized that all individuals residing in the U.S. will always be recognized as Pakistani-Americans and that it is everyone’s responsibility to work together for the development of Pakistan, setting aside personal affiliations and priorities.
The Ambassador highlighted that the U.S. is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and stressed that strengthening U.S.-Pakistan relations, particularly in economic terms, will directly benefit the Pakistani-American community. He urged the community to play an active role in cementing this partnership, saying, “I want to work with the Pakistani community to ensure that mutual Pak-U.S. interests are realized.” He also encouraged individuals from various sectors to contribute to reinforcing bilateral ties.
He commended the growing political influence of the Pakistani community in the U.S., noting that their active engagement in the American political process would further strengthen U.S.-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, with the aim of fostering inclusivity and ensuring 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.