Karachi Press Club delegation visits Texas’ cities

AUSTIN: Texas is considered as a heaven to diaspora of people from all over including of Pakistani descent, Texas Deputy Secretary of State Mr. Coby Sharter, III said.

Talking to visiting journalist delegation from Karachi Press Club in his office, he said Texas is particularly attractive to immigrants as it has better economic opportunities than other states.

Talking about Texas social and cultural History, Mr. Sharter said that Texas is a multi-ethnic and multi-racial society, historically Texas had stayed as an independent country for some time and that is why Texas is still called Republic of Texas.

Welcoming the journalists group, he said that media plays a vital role in information dissemination and for peoples outreach. He said that Texas is still a prosperous state for which its people are very proud.

The journalist delegation was also given a tour of historical sites in Texas capital city of Austin. The tour for journalist's delegation and meetings with public officials were arranged by a prominent community leader and President & CEO of CyberTex Group of Companies, Mr. Iqbal Sheikh.

The delegation was also given a tour of offices of Austin's daily newspaper "Austin American Statesman", where they exchanged ideas with resident news officials and editorial staff. Senior journalists Marry Ann Roser, Staff Writer & Asher price, Environmental Reporter.

Cyber Tech CEO Mr. Iqbal Sheikh later hosted a luncheon in honor of the visiting journalists group at Austin Club in which former Texas senator Mr. Gonzales Barrientos, international expert on rice Mr. Milo Hamilton, Charles Shart, Mr. Charles Schotz, Margie Moore, Director Government Relations at CyberTex, Mr. Bill Martin, South Asia Democracy Watch Director Amir Makhani, and Ilyas Chaudhry also attended the event.

Journalist's delegation later toured University of Texas Austin where they visited the office of Charlie Wilson's Pakistan Chair. They met Dr. Randy Diehl, Dean of College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. He said all credit in establishing this chair goes to Pakistanis living in the state who through their fundraising efforts made this happen. He said that this is the first Pakistan chair established in any US University.

Recognizing Cyber Tech CEO Mr. Iqbal Sheikh he said that he played a major role in establishment of the chair and helped in achieving the target funds earlier than the target date. He highlighted the background of establishing the first privately funded Chair at the UT,

He informed about its future plans and the hiring of a renowned Scholar Dr. Paula Newberg to start the work of chair.

Talking about Pakistan Chair he said that they have recently appointed Dr. Paula Newberg as its Director who has recently visited Pakistan. He said that this Pakistan chair is studying various aspects of Pakistan through prominent scholars.

The visiting journalists presented Sindhi Ajrak and cap to Dr. Randy Diehl.

Later the visiting delegation toured the city hall as Mayor's guests, where visiting journalists Azhar Hussain, Allauddin Khanzada, and Minhaj ur Rab, Texas prominent Journalist Zahid Khanzada, South Asia Democracy Watch Director Amir Makhani and Houston Karachi sister city President Saeed Sheikh were presented honorary citizenship certificate of the city of Austin by Mayor's special representative and International Economic Development Manager for the City of Austin, Mr. Ben Ramirez, III. He informed about the Austin's and Texas Economic and Business environment and facilities.

The visiting delegation also visited the city of San Antonio where they were given a tour of historical buildings. Iqbal Sheikh, President & CEO of CyberTex Group of Companies also hosted a dinner at his house in honor of visiting delegation.