Leaders do not create followers. They create more leaders

Tom Peters
 

PAKPAC Representatives Meet with Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Chertoff

The Pakistani-American Public Affairs Committee Representatives met with secretary of the Department Homeland Security, Secretary Chertoff.

 This meeting was organized in  Washington, D.C. where the President of PAKPAC, Dr. Saud Anwar with some of the other Board Members of PAKPAC came to DC to discuss the issues of concern of the Pakistani-American community.  The issues discussed include the visa delay challenges, the background check delays, which are impacting the community’s access to their voting rights. Discussion was held regarding potential solutions of the processes and the yield of the extensive back ground checks vs. the negative impact it was creating in the lives of the affected community and US perception outside of United States.

Dr. Anwar spoke about the importance of the role of the community in building bridges of understanding with the law enforcement agencies and working together with the Department of Homeland Security in protecting our homeland.  There was a discussion held on increasing the number of people of Pakistani and Muslim heritage with Department of Homeland Security at the policy and implementation level.

 PAKPAC representatives stressed on developing, pursuing and building on the civil rights related agenda that has been pursued by the Department of Homeland Security in the recent past, and ways of mechanism of building on this after the change in administration next year.  This was a 45-minute long discussion with clear development of understanding between the groups. This meeting included PAKPAC Board of Directors, Dr. Saud Anwar, Dr. Pervez Shah, Hassan Bukhari, Mushtaq Sheikh. APPNA President Mahmood Alam, President elect Dr. Zeelaf Munir, Chair of advocacy Committee Dr. Piracha and Exec Director of Muslim Advocates Farhana Khera were also invited by PAKPAC in the meeting.

PAKPAC Recent Press Releases

 PAKPAC's Call to community to be better organized:

Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee asks the Pakistani American community organizations leadership to develop strategies for better organizing itself. Time has come and past for us to be organized. We need to wait no longer. There is a nee to develop mechanisms for a nationwide coordination. We need to organize our organizations. This can occurs as a Federation of Pakistani Americans Groups or a set up of Nor Resident Pakistanis group. The model of everyone doing everything is not sustainable. Developments of organizations skills for specific roles is needed. The community needs to function as a functional body with different organs and specialists doing specific functions but working on coordination with each other... READ MORE

PAKPAC COMMITTEES

PAKPAC Information

Long Term Strategy for Pakistan-US Relations
 

 PAKPAC welcomes Senators. Joseph Biden and Richard Lugar's statements who said Tuesday that they will push bipartisan legislation this year that would triple humanitarian spending in Pakistan but threaten to cut military aid unless Islamabad does more to fight terrorists.

 The legislation would specifically authorize $7.5 billion to be spent in the next five years for development, such as building schools, roads and clinics. This legislation is a strong signal from the people of United States that they values friendship with the people of Pakistan.

In order to deal with the challenges of extremism, there is a need for a multi-prong approach. There is a need to increase in support for civilian institutions and help build the infrastructure needs of Pakistan. There is also an acute need for support for economy and a democracy dividend at this time to help strengthen the democratic institutions. 

The President of PAKPAC, Dr. Saud Anwar recently met with Senators Biden and Dodd (both were Presidential candidates from the Democratic party), both Members of the Senate Foreign Relation Committee. Discussion was held on the details of the Bill and the need for a long term strategy.

Senator Joseph Biden was also the key note speaker at the PAKPAC annual luncheon in Washington DC. The Pakistani American community showed support to his proposal. PAKPAC requests the community to support the Bill (When it is officially proposed) and call their respective Senators for supporting this bill. If you are interested to support the PAKPAC efforts for supporting Senator Biden, please click on this link and contribute.

 
______________________________________________ 
Becoming a PAKPAC
Board of Director

Requirements for New  Board of Director: 

1. Subscribe to the mission and vision of PAKPAC
2. Completed an undergraduate degree
3. US Citizen
4. Association with Pakistan either by birth or family connection
5. Currently not elected to an office or seeking an office as a declared candidate,  through general elections
6. Must be politically astute, have general knowledge of US political system and its norms. Must be either currently involved in politics or have an interest to get involved in political activities
7. Track record of political activities; academic skills; community service; etc
8. Active participant in PAKPAC activities and willing to spend as a minimum 40 hours per calendar year
9. Attend at least 70% BOD meetings, take and/or share responsibility of PAKPAC events in your area and play an active role as liaison with elected officials in the area. 
10. Provide balance in BOD with respect to US geography, representation weight and across the political arena with respect to parties and groups within them 

 Questions to the NEW potential BOD members by nominating Committee

1. What is your opinion of American political system? How do you propose we integrate Pakistani-Americans into mainstream of American politics? 
2. Are you currently or planning to be an active player in the political arena? If so in what capacity?
3. What do you know about PAKPAC and / or other PACs ?
4. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of PAKPAC?
5. What are your expectations from PAKPAC and how do they fit into your personal goals? 
6. How can you enhance the image and reach of PAKPAC? What things would you do different in PAKPAC
7. How can you help PAKPAC reach its objectives
8. How can you help nurture political activism amongst fellow Pakistani-Americans in your area? 
9. Please submit a brief resume covering, but not limited to, education, professional and personal activities with particular emphasis on community affairs and political activism.
   
   Please send the info to Nomination@pakpac.net

Meet the PAKPAC Board of Directors