Washington, D.C.: Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s envoy to the United States, reiterated his commitment to fostering community-led initiatives that advance Pakistan’s development during an event at the Pakistani Embassy on October 2, 2024. The ambassador emphasized the embassy’s readiness to support such initiatives with full resources, aiming to bolster economic and diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the U.S.

According to Press Information Department, Ambassador Sheikh underscored the importance of the Pakistani-American community’s involvement in strengthening U.S.-Pakistan ties. He highlighted the strategic role of the U.S. as Pakistan’s largest trading partner and urged community members to actively participate in enhancing this relationship for mutual benefits. “Pakistan is our identity, and our contributions here in the U.S. reflect back on our homeland,” Sheikh said during his speech at the Jamshed Marker Hall in the Embassy of Pakistan.

The event, organized by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), served as a platform for the ambassador to call on Pakistani-Americans to leverage their growing political influence in the U.S. to further national interests. He praised the community’s previous successes in organizing impactful events at the embassy and assured continued support for such collaborations.

Syed Qamar Raza, Chairman of the OPF Board of Governors, also addressed the attendees, outlining new directions for the foundation, including expanded services for expatriates and streamlined resolutions of their concerns. Raza announced the expansion of the OPF’s Advisory Council from 15 to 200 members, aiming to include diverse sectors in fostering Pakistan’s progress.

The gathering also featured remarks from prominent Pakistani-American community leaders who discussed the potential impacts of stronger bilateral ties on the community and the broader implications for Pakistan’s economic and political landscape.

In closing, both Sheikh and Raza emphasized the critical need for unity and cooperation among the Pakistani diaspora to achieve significant progress in foreign remittances and overall national development. The embassy event underscored the vital link between active diaspora engagement and Pakistan’s socio-economic enhancement on the global stage.