“Pakistan is going global; it will go global. Do not believe in doom and gloom stories; have faith in your motherland. There is bright light ahead. Invest in Pakistan,” said Ambassador Masood Khan, urging the diaspora to reject cynics and embrace Pakistan’s potential.
Ambassador Masood Khan made these remarks during the OPEN Global Retreat 2024 held in New York City from June 7-9. The fourth such retreat, prestigious event brought together renowned entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders from the vibrant Pakistani-American community.
While speaking on the occasion, Abu Bakar, OPEN Global President and a successful entrepreneur and business leader, navigated the gathering through OPEN’s journey under his presidency, and outlined its future agenda. OPEN New York President Tariq Khan and OPEN Chicago President Amir Chalisa are also shared their thoughts.
OPEN Global, also known as the Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs, is a renowned non-profit organization that serves as the world’s premier entrepreneur network and a powerhouse for individuals of Pakistani descent. Founded in 1998 in Boston, OPEN Global has grown into a global movement, with 17 chapters across four continents spanning across major cities worldwide, including Boston, New York, Silicon Valley, Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, London, and Toronto.
The Ambassador recognized the impressive gathering and paid tribute to OPEN leadership for fostering a vibrant community of professionals. Recognizing OPEN’s growth over the years, he appreciated OPEN’s presence in four continents through thirteen chapters. “OPEN has become a brand,” he commented, saying, “If OPEN has faith in Pakistan, everyone have faith in Pakistan.”
The Ambassador emphasized the pivotal role of Pakistani-Americans as a “connective tissue” between Pakistan and the United States, stating, “If all other linkages fail, Pakistani-Americans will hold this relationship together.” He urged the community to rise above their differences and focus on strengthening economic ties. “Vital interest of Pakistan should be protected at all costs,” he stressed.
Highlighting the positive trajectory of Pakistan-U.S. relations, Ambassador Khan described it as a “positive bandwidth” that has navigated through challenges. “Pakistan-US relations have navigated through difficulties. Now is a good time and opportunity to build economic partnership,” he said, adding that both countries have proved naysayers wrong who claimed there was no future for the bilateral relationship after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Ambassador Khan presented priority sectors ripe for investment, including IT, energy (green and renewable), agriculture (corporate farming), and the extractive industry, inviting the diaspora to contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth. He outlined the government’s agenda, highlighting reforms, regulatory improvements, and efforts to enhance the ease of doing business.
The event featured a diverse array of speakers and success stories from the Pakistani-American community. Dilawar Syed, Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), Sabir Sami, Global CEO of KFC, and Shakir Moin, President of MarkePng, Coca-Cola North America shared their insights.
Entrepreneurs like Jabran Niaz (CEO, Utopia Deals), Naveed Sherwani (Chairman, President & CEO, RapidSilicon), Tariq Farid (Founder & CEO, Edible), Najeeb Ghauri (Founder & CEO, NETSOL Technologies Inc.), Akif Tarique (Global Head of Insurance Practice, Visionet Systems Inc.), Tahir Javed (CEO & President, Riceland Healthcare), Hassan Ahmed (CEO, Co-Founder & Chairman, Sway AI), Farrukh Usman (Founder & CEO, Byonyks Medical Devices, Inc), and Umber Ahmed (Founder & CEO, Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery) shared their inspiring journeys and success stories.
During the conversations, numerous speakers enthusiastically shared their experiences of conducting business ventures in Pakistan. They exuded an air of optimism about the country’s future prospects, endorsing the immense potential that lies within its human resources, technological advancements, energy sector, manufacturing capabilities, mineral wealth, and agricultural prowess, among other domains. The speakers passionately urged successful entrepreneurs to give back to their beloved motherland and fellow compatriots, emphasizing the importance of reinvesting in the nation's growth and development.
The OPEN Global Retreat 2024, the fourth such event since its inception, provided a platform for the Pakistani diaspora to connect, collaborate, and explore opportunities to contribute to their homeland's progress while strengthening ties between Pakistan and the United States.