Dear Employer,

After the disaster of September 11th 2001, our country has changed in many respects. We are flooded with significant media information regarding individuals, groups, and communities, which have also resulted in changes in a large number of policies in the United States.

At times, media in their zeal have consciously or unconsciously made all Americans to look at people with certain ethnic backgrounds differently. We ourselves at times find that we do have been influenced to look at certain people of certain backgrounds, religions, color of skin critically. We however must realize that as Americans, we are taught the true values of respect, tolerance and protecting each other’s right.

The current environment has led to a tendency towards generalization, stereotyping at a conscious and an unconscious level.

PAKPAC at the present time is aware of the current problems that as a result of policies, organized and obvious and obscure actions, which have resulted in the Pakistani-Americans to feel the affects of this.

It is also important to note that in the post-9/11 era, Pakistan and the people of Pakistan have suffered the most in the United States and in Pakistan in the Global War on Terror. While working side by side with the US forces, as well as helping the US interests in the region, the people of Pakistan have suffered directly and indirectly. Whether it is being killed by the hands of extremists or a decrease in the influx of foreign investments because of the changes in created perception, Pakistan has suffered by lives and economy in this situation.

Moreover, the Pakistani American community has suffered the most amongst all communities in the US. A survey conducted by Florida-based Bendixen & Associates performed for Amnesty International found that Pakistani Americans reported higher levels of discrimination and government targeting than Americans of Arab descent. About 31 percent of Pakistani Americans said they have experienced discrimination in their schools, workplaces or neighborhoods over the past three years as opposed to twenty-one percent of Arab Americans.

This is of grave concern to us all only as this is Un-American, but also because this community was neither in anyway directly or indirectly involved with the September 11th event. None of the 19 perpetrators were of Pakistani origin or directly or indirectly linked to Pakistan.

It is generally believed that this community has been targeted because of the color of skin or resemblance or being generalized as Arab-Americans based on lack of knowledge. We do strongly feel that discriminating against Arab Americans is also completely wrong and action of 19 people should not put an active positive community hostage. It has been suggested at times, that the discrimination or the actions have been taken based on religious reasons versus other causes.

We at PAKPAC are providing some of this information to the educators, as well as employers and business personnel to understand and be a part of stopping this process or controlling this process in a much organized way.
We have created an educational program that would allow you to get
information regarding some of the following aspects:

a. Background of the Pakistani-American community.
b. Background of Pakistan.
c. The Pakistan as a country.
d. The contribution of Pakistani-Americans in the United States.
e. The different faces of Pakistani-Americans.
f. The differences between Pakistani-Americans and Arab-Americans.
e. Common misconceptions and stereotypes.

We would be available for specific questions with respect to some cultural, religious, other experiences that the employer may have specific questions for.

Employers are requested to contact PAKPAC for any questions and for the presentations
at info@pakpac.net

Common Misconceptions and Stereotypes about Pakistani Americans