United States: SADW hosts reception in honor of visiting Pak scholars
November 19, 2014
The delegation comprising 24 members from various University high officials was in a workshop on US initiatives on educational programs at various Pakistani educational institutes.
A large number of Pakistani Americans from Dallas Fort Worth including civic, political and business leaders attended the reception.
The community leadership attending the reception included Ex. Mayor of Paris Dr. Arjumand Hashmi, health care tycoon Dr. Hasan Hashmi, Pakistan Society of North Texas Ex. President Barkat Basaria, and Pakistan American Association of Texas newly elected President Dr. Javed Ajmal, Professor Dr. Samir Iqbal of University Of Texas Arlington, religious leader Ghulam Jangda, Pakistani Christian Welfare Society President Javed Samuel Gill, Salman Tabani, Muslim Democratic Caucus of Texas President and Dallas Peace Center Director Aftab Siddiqui, Ex. Mayor of west Chaplin, Florida Salma Hashmi, Alnoor International President Noor Amrohvi, University of Texas Dallas Asia Center Director Monique Wedderburn, Silver club leaders Qamar Ali Rayani, Akbar Birani, University of North Texas professor Raja Masood, Saeed Qureshi, Shah Alam Siddiqui, Nazia Khan, South Asia Democracy Watch Directors Aftab Siddiqui, Dr. Mona Kazim Shah, Raja Muzaffar Kashmiri, and Tausif Kamal.
South Asia Democracy Watch President Amir Makhani welcomed all the guests. Addressing the gathering he said people are the rightful owners of any country.
He said a country is like a house, if there is an issues, we try to resolve it instead of abandoning ownership of the house.
He said a weak democracy can be repaired by a better democracy. “This is why all of us should protect people’s democratic rights and resolve political issues through dialogues,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, South Asia Democracy Watch Secretary General Syed Fayyaz Hassan said all the issues in South Asia could be resolved through democratic process and mutual dialogues.
The SADeW member board of director Raja Zahid Khanzada said that promotion of education is the best policy tool for any country’s progress and development.
“Education is a building block for a mature democratic society,” he said. Mr. Khanzada applauded the US policies aimed at promoting higher education in Pakistan.
The Ex- Mayor of Paris Texas Dr. Arjumand Hashmi said that he welcomes the educators from Pakistan in Texas.
He said that the cooperation between US and Pakistan and investment on education in Pakistan will bear fruits.
Health Care business tycoon in US and owner of Texas Genral Hospital Dr. Hassan Hashmi while addressing the gathering said that Pakistan and US joint venture on education is a good policy.
He said that he is also running a robotic surgery program with some of Pakistani educational institutes and his Texas General Hospital.
He also offered his hospital resources to the State Department for the promotion of educational programs in Pakistan.
State department senior official Richard Boyum the cultural attaché at Pakistan Embassy in Islamabad Judith Ravin and Dr. Masood Raja of University of North Texas thanked the South Asia Democracy Watch leadership for hosting the event, gathering Pakistani community notables and sumptuous dinner on a short notice of only four hours.
Richard Boyum said that among all of the countries receiving State Department scholarships, Pakistan comes at number one.
This shows US government commitment in promoting education in Pakistan. On the occasion invited guest thanked the leadership of SADeW for connecting them with Pakistani American community of DFW.
Director of National Academy of Performing Arts and renowned music composer Arshad Mahmood played several poems of Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
The delegation visiting from Pakistan consisted of Dr. Razia Sulatana Vice Chancellor Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Dr. Ahsan Ali Vice Chancellor Majid Saeed Khan , film and tv department National College of Arts, Lahore; Dr. Bushra Yasmin associate professor Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi; Dr. Sarah Shahed, gender studies Lahore College for Women University, Lahore; Dr. Zakria Zakar Dean University of Punjab; Dr. Nikhat Khan vice principal Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore; Dr. Farish Ullah Yousafzai professor & Dean, University of Gujarat and University of Oklahoma; Dr. Ihsan Ali vice chancellor Abdul Wali Khan University; Dr. Sajjad Ahmad Khan director university of Peshawar and University of Kentucky; Dr. Mohammad Mohsin Khan director University of Kentucky; Muhammad Umer faculty member Kohat University of Science and Technology and University of Kentucky; Dr. Muhammad Zubair Khan lecturer University of Science and Technology and Bannu with University of Kentucky; Dr. Razia Sultana vice chancellor Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University and Southern Methodist University; Dr. Mumtaz Ahmad Vice President International Islamic University Islamabad with university of North Carolina, Wilmington; Dr. Khalid M. Irqai dean University of Karachi with George Mason University; Maj. Gen. Masood ul Hasan rector National University of modern Languages with University of North Texas; Dr. Hameedullah Kazi pro-vice chancellor Isra University, Hyderabad with Ball State University; Shumaila Noorani manager library Indus Valley School with Southern Polytechnic State University; Dr. Murtaza Jafri principal national college of arts, Rawalpindi; Arshad Madmud director of programs National Academy of Performing Arts with University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Raja Nasim Akhtar dean Allama Iqbal Open University with San Jose State University; Dr. Rukhsana Qamber director Quaid-I-Azam University with Ball State University; Dr. M. Mazhar Saeed Director General Higher Education Commission of Pakistan; Mehfooz Ullah Assistant Professor KIU.
