Building Bridges


Written by Sarah Alam • Features • December 2009

The Pak-US Alumni Association came into existence in September 2008 with the mission of promoting and sustaining mutual understanding and sharing of ideas between the people of the United States and Pakistan through various exchanges to strengthen a complementary partnership. Nearly forty individuals representing the public and private sector of Pakistan became its founding members with regional chapters operating in all major cities. The Pak-US Alumni Karachi Chapter comprises a core team of nine members.

The Karachi chapter has invited all returning exchange programme alumni who have benefited from the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State sponsored programmes, to become its members. The Association involves the exchange alumni in various activities impacting community development. Throughout the year the core group members of the Association organize numerous activities and programmes engaging alumni and representatives from the US Consulate in Karachi in strengthening friendly relations between the people of the two countries. The activities of the Association include outreach to community through welfare and relief camps, celebration of international days, seminars, workshops, conferences and several awareness campaigns on issues affecting day to day lives of people.

The core group members of P.U.A.A. Karachi Chapter meet on a monthly basis for planning and execution of activities and programmes. The Association runs on a self-help basis through the cooperation and support of core group members, who voluntarily give their time and expertise and utilize personal resources for execution of all programmes.

So far the Association has celebrated World Wetland Day for wildlife conservation at Haleji Lake and commemorated International Women’s Day through a DVD screening, It also held a ladies hockey tournament, celebrated Earth Day through a poster competition for school children and a seminar. The core members participated actively in relief work for internally displaced people in the northern areas. A live video screening was followed by discussion with the US Consul General and young people on the speech President Barack Obama delivered in Cairo.

The Karachi Chapter commemorated the first year of its existence recently at the US Consul General’s residence. Nearly 100 people from the public and private sector participated, with most guests being former ECA sponsored exchange program alumni.

The event included a welcome address by the Chairperson of Pak-US Alumni Association, Barrister Shahida Jamil, remarks by the US Consul General, Stephen G. Fakan, presentation of Mission and Vision of P.U.A.A. by Constance C. Jones, cultural attaché at the US embassy in Islamabad and an overview of P.U.A.A. activities by Secretary General Sarah Alam.

Tokens of appreciation were awarded for their dedication and commitment to the founding members - Jawaid Iqbal, Fawzia Siddiqui, Tariq Mustafa, Rahat Najam, Junaid Ahsen and Azfar Ahsen.

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