PAKPAC SAVE THE DATES

DAY ON THE HILL:

June 26th, 2008
7 AM to 3 PM
Washington DC

ANNUAL LUNCHEON

June 28 2008
Noon time to 2 PM
Washington DC

More info forthcoming

 

 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 Meeting with Senator Joe Biden

The Pakistani-American Public Affairs Committee president Dr. Saud Anwar had a meeting with Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware who is the chairperson of US Senate Foreign Relation Committee.  Dr. Saud Anwar thanked Senator Biden for his well thought out strategy for a long-term plan for Pakistan-US relationship. He complemented Senator Biden for understanding the need for in long-term US investment in the people of Pakistan . His vision of a Pakistan focused strategy rather than individual focused strategy is much respected and supported by PAKPAC and the larger Pakistani American Community. There is an acute need to focus on helping reduce joblessness, increasing support to the economy and trade between US and Pakistan and investment in educational and healthcare infrastructure of the country. The discussion about importance of strengthening democratic institutions in a long-term manner in the region was also discussed.

 Senator Biden mentioned about his commitment for working towards having a long-term strategy for Pakistan , which should be in the best interest of United States .

 Dr. Anwar also has invited Senator Biden on behalf of the community to join in PAKPAC luncheon in Washington DC on the 28^th of June 2008.

Biden Plan

PAKPAC Board of Director to Host an Event with Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell

Dr. Rafiq Rahman, Board of Director of PAKPAC will be hosting an event for community meeting with Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky at his residence.

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell was unanimously elected Republican leader in the 110th Congress by his Republican colleagues. Senator McConnell is the 15th Republican leader and is only the second Kentuckian to lead his party in the U.S. Senate. Senator McConnell currently serves as a senior member of the Appropriations, Agriculture and Rules Committees.

 PAKPAC representatives will be discussing the Biden Plan for Pakistan with Senator McConnell to develop increase support within the Republican Party representatives for this plan and also support within the appropriations committee. Other issues for discussion include the civil rights challenges of our community. Community is requested to join in to support this event. Date: Friday May 16th, 2008 at 7 PM. at Dr. and Mrs Rafiq Rahman's residence 400 Briarwood Circle, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. For More info Call: 270 300 3739: Contributions: Hosts $2000, Sponsors $1000, Supporters: $500.

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PAKPAC SHARES VOTER ID RELATED CONCERNS:

The Pakistani-American Public Affairs Committee joins Representative Mike Honda, chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in showing a disappointment in the courts voter ID ruling.  The US Supreme Court at 6/3 decision to uphold an Indiana Law requiring voters show government issued photo identification before they can vote.  This decision essentially disenfranchises many minority and elderly voters.  It also has desperate impact on low income and elderly voters who would not be able to easily obtain the identification.  In order to obtain the identifications, people have to incur transportation cost, take time off work and this prevents the voters from exercising the democratic right and does reduce the probability of eligible voters’ participation.  Moreover, at times, the concern for some minority communities is because of demands for identification usually stem from perception that the voter does not appear to be “American Citizen” and people with mindsets towards discrimination and xenophobia may be more likely to challenge and cause difficulties for certain communities.

PAKPAC President meets with Pakistan's Ambassador Designate to United States, Mr Hussain Haqqani

The Pakistani-American Public Affairs Committee president Dr. Saud Anwar had a meeting with Ambassador Designate of Pakistan to United States Mr. Hussain Haqqani.  In this meeting a variety of issues were discussed with respect to the importance of current US-Pakistan relationship and the concerns of the Pakistani-American Community with respect to the civil rights.  

Several other diverse topics were conversed with specific focus on the need of the Pakistani-American Community to participate in a meaningful way in the challenges faced by the people of Pakistan. A need for institutional growth in Pakistan with respect to business investments, education investments was also held. Development of and strengthening of existing systems of checks and balances in the governance systems was stressed.

Discussion about a need for a broad based, multi-focal US-Pakistan relationship and the need for long-term strategic plan was also discussed.