Announcement

Participate in Memorial Day Services

On this Memorial Day—one of our nation’s most revered holidays—we all pause to reflect upon the principles that have made our nation great. We pause to remember the true cost of freedom and to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect it. The brave men and women we honor today selflessly gave of themselves to defend a way of life that we so cherish: The rights of all people to determine our own futures, free of oppression and fear. It is because of these everyday heroes that we celebrate Memorial Day, commemorating the selflessness and sacrifice of those upon whose very lives rests the foundation of freedom. To honor all those who have died in service to our country, we have set aside Memorial Day. Across the United States, military support groups, veterans associations, and patriots mount public tribute to those who served and sacrificed. Please honor our men and women in uniform by participating in events in your home town to keep alive the memory of those who paid the ultimate price.

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. ~Lee Greenwood

Memoriall Day Background: On May 5, 1868, General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, asked that America remember those lost in the Civil War by “gather[ing] around their sacred remains” to “garland the passionless mounds…with choicest flowers” and “raise above them the dear old flag they saved.”

Spring Student Internship

State Department is now accepting applications for the U.S. Department of State's 2012 Spring Student Internship Program. Click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/programs and choose either Graduate/Post-Graduate or Undergraduate) for more information and to start the online application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is July 01, 2011. You must be a U.S. Citizen and a student (a full- or part-time continuing college or university junior, or graduate student - including graduating seniors intending to go on to graduate school) to be eligible. Please read the program description and vacancy announcement for more information and for all requirements and qualifications.

Summer Jobs for Students

If you are a student (or know a student) looking for a summer job, the federal government may be an option. Read Summer Jobs with the Federal Government to learn about the types of jobs available and how to apply.  

Foreign Service Medical/Health positions

Please click on a link below to view the vacancy, learn more about qualifications and requirements, and to start the application process.

Foreign Service Regional Medical Officers (RMO)

Foreign Service Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrists (RMO/P)

News

9-11 Tenth Anniversary

As we approach the ten year anniversary of September 11, our country will engage in a process of reflection, renewal and recommitment to fundamental American values. This campaign seeks to contribute to this process by ensuring that the experiences of South Asians, Arab Americans, Muslims and Sikhs over the past decade are part of our observations and understanding. SAALT has launched a campaign to mark the 10-year anniversary of September 11^th – An America for All of Us. See flyer for more details.

The goals of this nationwide campaign are twofold:

·                     To ensure that the South Asian community’s experiences and perspectives are part of the national dialogue around the anniversary;

·                     To demand our representatives and elected officials to take a stand against racist and xenophobic rhetoric as well as policies targeting minorities

PAKPAC has endorsed this campaign, and will be participating in its activities by participating n local grassroots truth  hearings, document community stories, ask our Member-of-Congress and Senator to ask them to sign a pledge that reaffirms their commitment to fundamental American values. If you would like to share your post 9-11 experience with other community members, please write to ed@pakpac.net

Film about Squash Legend Hashim Khan

KEEP EYE ON BALL: The Hashim Khan Story

How one man broke through squash’s elite world and put Pakistan on the map.

Keep Eye on Ball: The Hashim Khan Story traces the extraordinary life of Pakistan’s first national hero, the father of modern squash and a proud Pashtun. In 1951, four years after the partition of India and Pakistan, 37-year-old Hashim was permitted to enter the British Open. Virtually unknown at the time, he upended the elite squash world by winning the first of his seven British Open titles. He went on to create the “Khan Dynasty” — teaching his brother, cousins and sons the game, and turning them all into champions.

Hashim started out as a ball boy at the open-roofed courts of the Peshawar British Officers’ Club.  A bare-footed Hashim spent hours perfecting the skills that would carry him to international fame, granting him entry into the most exclusive private clubs in England and the United States.

 Keep Eye on Ball is more than the remarkable story of this squash legend. It goes beyond the four walls of the squash court, tracing Hashim’s story from a turbulent moment in the history of three nations — England, India and Pakistan — to his life as a Muslim in post-9/11 America. The documentary includes rare footage of the Khyber Pass and the remote Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan.

To arrange for a screening in your area or get a personal DVD copy visit www.SquashFilms.com

Year Abroad for Pakistani Students at American Secondary Schools

Over 35 Pakistani students left for USA to study at American secondary schools as part of U.S. government funded 2010-11 Kerry-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program.  This is the 9th group of YES students to go to the U.S.  This orientation program, which is organized by the LEARN Society for International Education, plays a key role in preparing students with the required skills, attitude, and knowledge to spend a successful year in the United States. 

The YES program encourages the exchange of ideas, values, and experiences among young people and leads to greater cultural awareness and appreciation, exposing young scholars to the principles of democracy, free markets, civil society, and community service. 

This group is part of a total of 108 students participating in the YES program from Pakistan.  These students come from 28 different cities and comprise the largest single group from any of the over 40 participating countries. 

Labor Secretary announces  H-1B technical skills training grant competition

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced the availability of approximately $240 million through the H-1B technical skills training grant competition.  The U.S. Department of Labor expects to fund 75-100 grants through a single solicitation. Individual grants will range from $1 million to $5 million and will be distributed through two rounds of funding.  The projects to be funded will help workers update current skills or acquire new ones so they can enter career pathways leading to higher-paying jobs.

“This administration is committed to getting all Americans back to work and into good jobs. These grants will create important opportunities for those who may still be searching for work after many months of unemployment,” said Secretary Hilda L. Solis. “As they seek out new careers in promising industries, our nation’s workers need and deserve access to quality training and employment services. The H-1B technical skills grant competition will help make that possible.”

The Labor Department intends to award at least $150 million to grantees that provide on-the-job training to all participants.  The remaining funds will be awarded to applicants that offer other training strategies. At least $45 million of the total will be awarded to applicants providing training for occupations in the health care industry and at least $60 million will be awarded to applicants serving individuals experiencing long-term unemployment.  

Viewpoint

U.S. Pakistan Relations - Post Bin Laden By Shehzad Akhtar

The recent death of Osama Bin Laden is a great strategic victory for the United States.  The death of Bin Laden, is also a victory for Pakistan.  The question of how Bin Laden was residing in Abbottabad is concerning - and both Pakistan and the United States (either independently or jointly) must investigate.  The men who were aiding Bin Laden may have been part of the Pakistani military or intelligence apparatus.  This is especially true since Abbottabad is a military city, filled with retired military officials.   Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we find out who in Pakistan helped Bin Laden - for those involved pose a clear threat to the United States and Pakistan.

The death of Bin Laden should be viewed as a beginning of the end of the terror network.  We should not become complacent, but continue to aggressively fight the enemy in order to destroy Al-Qaeda and its ideology.   The fact that the demise of Bin Laden coincides with that of the Arab Spring has been fortuitous.  The response in the Arab world has been muted - as has the response in Pakistan itself.  This is evidence that Bin Laden's ideology is dying, and no longer resonating with the general populace in the Muslim world. According to a poll by the Pew Research Centre, confidence in Bin Laden in Pakistan fell from 52% in 2005 to 18% in 2010.  In the Palestinian territories Bin Laden's support fell from 72% in 2003 to 34% now. In Jordan it is down from 56% to 13%. Read More

Don't give up on Pakistan - Hassan Abbas

In recent years Pakistan has stumbled from one crisis to another. Reeling from a deadly insurgency on the country's western border, its democratic government has struggled to establish even a modicum of stability. The people of Pakistan have shown amazing resilience even as they face rising terrorist activity, severe economic distress and perennial regional tensions.

That Osama bin Laden was hiding in plain sight in a compound less than a mile from Pakistan's national military academy is troubling, to say the least. If Pakistan's intelligence missed him completely, then it was a case of criminal negligence. If there was collusion of some sort, that will be an even more dire piece of news. Read More

Read Hassan Abbas report on Pakistan - PAKISTAN 2020 A Vision for Building a Better Future

Let us stay United - Myra Chaudhry

The mastermind and symbol of hatred, death and destruction, the murderer of thousands of peace loving people from all faiths, nationalities and races has been eliminated.

Yes, it is a big achievement and the closure of a big and an important chapter but it is just a chapter in a long and a very difficult book that we must finish.

All this could not have been possible without determination, a lot of collaboration and cooperation. It is with the same spirit of unity, faith, discipline and cooperation across the world that we need to move forward. Read More

Community Action

Seeking Nominations for the 2011 President Citizens Medal

Presidential Citizens Medal: Last year, President Obama honored an amazing individual from the AAPI community with the nation’s second-highest civilian honor, the Presidential Citizens Medal. Betty Kwan Chinn suffered homelessness as a child in China, but when she came to America she sought to help the homeless here. Today, Betty provides meals twice a day to the homeless and the hungry.

For the 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal PAKPAC is asking community members to nominate those everyday heroes who have performed exemplary deeds of service, including those who have demonstrated commitment to service in their own communities or in communities farther from home, who have helped their country or their fellow citizens through one or more extraordinary acts, whose service relates to a long-term problem, or whose service has had a sustained impact on others’ lives and provided inspiration for others to serve. Last year over 6,000 incredible leaders were nominated for their service, which often times goes unrecognized. The Presidential Citizens Medal offers a chance to thank those extraordinary stewards of service from across the United States. For more information on the Citizens Medal as well how nominate an outstanding citizen, please visit WhiteHouse.gov/citizensmedal to watch the announcement video.  To nominate someone for the 2011 Citizens Medal, please review the criteria for this year’s medal at http://www.whitehouse.gov/citizensmedal/criteria

Upcoming Seminars at Think Tanks

To get information about future seminars and events relating to US-Pakistan relations, please visit the following websites

Atlantic Council

Brookings Institution

Council on Foreign Relations

Heritage Foundation

Middle East Institute

SAIS

Woodrow Wilson Center

LINKS

US News

Congressional News

Pakistan News

World News

Events & Activities

PAKPAC participates in Foreign Service Officers Training

PAKPAC Executive Director Irfan Malik participated in a training session of State Department Career Diplomats, US Attorney’s, and FBI officers at the Foreign Services Institute< Washington DC. Purpose of the training was to identify ways and means to engage with Diaspora Communities. The training was organized by DHS. Topics covered were: What Makes the Pakistani Diaspora community in the U.S. unique; What are the critical issues faced by the Pakistani Diaspora communities; How can the U.S. government work better with Diaspora communities. During the course of training substantial discussion took place on best means to counter violent extremism and youth empowerment. Training participants appreciated the contribution of Pakistani American Community towards the American culture and economy.

Pakistani American Organizations meet USAID Administrator

USAID Administrator Dr. Raj Shah and his immediate staff met with following Pakistani American Organizations, PAKPAC, PAL-C, CPR, APF, and IMPAK. Executive Director Irfan Malik represented PAKPAC at this meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to solicit ideas from Community on how to best channel US economic assistance to Pakistan. Dr. Shah shared the frustration of Appropriations and Budgetary constraints, and reiterated his focus on result oriented assistance. He told the group that USAID has disbursed over $1.7 Billion on humanitarian and economic assistance to Pakistan in the past two years after passage of Kerry Lugar – Berman bill. About 50% of the assistance has been spent in Pakistan. (FACTCHECK: Only $179 million of Kerry Lugar Berman funds have been disbursed, rest is assistance provided for various disasters like Swat IDP, Floods, etc).   Dr. Shah indicated that due to USAID help to farmers, Pakistan is having a bumper wheat crop, which has helped Pakistan foreign exchange reserves at a time of record high wheat prices. USAID has also disbursed funds for children immunization.  Afghanistan- Pakistan consume bulk of USAID efforts, about half of USAID staff working on these two countries, locally or in Washington DC.

Community Organizations in a unified voice shared their frustration with Dr. Shah of USAID not achieving the desired results. They asked for signature projects in the areas of Health care, Education and Energy. They also asked for increased level of public-private partnership focused on increased trade. Pakistani Americans asked Dr. Shah for increased Community engagement, and how best to communicate and share USAID efforts and ideas with Pakistani American Community.

The Secretary’s Global Diaspora Forum

United States has the largest number of international migrants of any country in the world. To unleash this potential of about 62 million First generation Americans, the Secretary of State’s Office of the Global Partnership Initiative (GPI), launched the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA) on May 17, 2011. IdEA is an innovative platform for public-private partnerships designed to engage Diaspora communities, the private sector, and public institutions in a collaborative process. The goal is to support the development of Diaspora-centered partnerships that promote trade and investment, volunteerism, philanthropy, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation in countries of origin. About 300 New Americans attended this three day event at State Department. PAKPAC was represented by its Executive Director Irfan Malik and Student Activist Mansoor Alam.  Many other Pakistani American organizations attended and participated in this event.

Global Diaspora from USA had the highest remittance in the world of about $48 billion. The forum focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, diplomacy, volunteerism, and philanthropy.

Secretary Clinton in her opening remarks asked participants to use the smart power of ‘people – people’ links. She recognized the efforts of Diaspora stepping in where others want to stay away, citing examples of Irish Americans, and Pakistani Americans Communities. State Department will act as Convener – in bringing people together; Catalyst – in launching new projects; and Collaborator – in planning and implement projects. Transcript and video of remarks by Secretary Clinton at the Forum.

2010 Census and the Asian American Pacific Islanders communities

US Census Bureau presented results for the 2010 Census about Asian American to a group Asian Americans. PAKPAC was represented by Irfan Malik at this meeting.

US Census Bureau has been making public results of 2010 Census in the past three months.  They now have released results for American population ethnic breakdown.  Asian ethnicity results so far released provide details for   Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Other Asian. In the 2010 Census form there was no check box to list “Pakistan” as a person’s race. PAKPAC is working with Commerce Department to have a check box for Pakistan in the next Census.  In the 2010 Census Americans of Pakistani origin were listed under ‘Other Asian”. Result of “other Asian” breakdown will be released by end of July.

Asians have the highest growth rate increasing from 11.9 million in 2000 to 17.3 million in 2010. Asians now are the third largest race in USA at 5%, behind White 72%, and Black 12%. New York City has the highest numbers of Asians living there, followed by Los Angels, and San Jose. Read Complete Report.

PAKPAC attends Asian Pacific American Heritage Briefing

The White House hosted an Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders briefing on May 4 in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Various administration and agency speakers briefed AAPI community leaders on agency programs. Speakers included  Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, Arne Duncan Secretary Education; Jon Carson, director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Deputy Assistant to the President; Cecilia Muñoz. At the briefing, Valerie Jarrett announced a new “Winning the Future” document focusing on spurring economic growth, health care, immigration, and infrastructure development that can be found at AAPI.gov. Jarrett encouraged participants to submit feedback on the document—you can download the pdf here.  “If you succeed, America succeeds, and we all succeed,” Jarrett told the audience.

Immigration

PAKPAC Welcomes Obama Administration Decision to Abolish NSEERS Program

Washington DC, April 27th 2011: The Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC), welcomes the decision of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to abolish the policy of National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) also known as Special Registration. As this decision is printed in the Federal Register, we are thankful that this policy that was placed in 2002 has significantly negatively impacted the lives of hundred if not thousands of non-immigrants and temporary visitors, many of them of Pakistani heritage. Ever since the establishment of NSEERS policy, PAKPAC and other Civil Rights Advocacy Groups have repeatedly pointed to US Government agencies about its infectivity, and substantial inconvenience it has caused.

PAKPAC thanks the policy makers and the Obama Administration to recognize the redundant and ineffective policy which actually has not only, not improved the safety of United States, but actually has caused significant negative impact and hardship on the lives of thousands of families. We do feel that in future, it is important that the policies that are made in "knee jerk" manner be well thought about in advance and continue to evaluate the efficacy of many of the policies. Any program which directly or indirectly discriminates against people of certain ethnicity, religion or other protected criteria is against core American Values.

Related Material:

DHS Notification on Abolishing NSEERS

PAKPAC Comments on NSEERS policy

Letter to Inspector General DHS

National Security Entry-Exit Registration System Policy

Enhancement to EB  5 Visa

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed significant enhancements to the administration of the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program, commonly referred to as the EB-5 Program—transforming the intake and review process for immigrant investors as part of the Obama administration’s continued commitment to improve the legal immigration system and meet our economic and national security needs for the 21st century. Read the News Release.

Endorsement

Dr. Babur Lateef Chairman - County Supervisors

PAKPAC endorsees the candidacy of Dr. Babur Lateef for Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, VA. Prince William has a population of over 400,000 people. Dr. Lateef is the Democratic nominee for this election to be held in Nov. To read more about Dr. Lateef, please visit www.lateefforchair.com.Dr. Babur Lateef, born and raised in Youngstown Ohio, is an eye surgeon in Woodbridge Virginia. After finishing Medical School at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Dr. Lateef moved to Woodbridge Virginia to raise his family and start his own practice. See attached flyer for more information about Dr. Lateef. Follow Dr.  Babur Lattef on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dr.babur.lateef

Please support the candidacy of Dr. Lateef by contributing towards his campaign at www.lateefforchair.com  You can also volunteer for Dr. Lateef’s campaign by being part of campaign phone bank. Please call your friends and relatives in Washington DC area to support the candidacy of Dr. Babur Lateef.

Future Activities

Justice Department Interagency Meeting

PAKPAC will participate in DOJ Interagency meeting, where it will bring up the issue of visa delays in Pakistan after the capture and killing of Osama Bib Laden. In particular visa delays for students and Doctors planning to start studies or training in USA.

Roundtable with Ambassador Grossman

PAKPAC will meet with Ambassador Marc Grossman Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan in a roundtable discussion on US-Pakistan relations on June 13th in Washington DC.

PAKPAC Annual Summer Meeting

Fundraiser

Event for Babur Lateef

Ambassador Ray Mahmood is holding a fundraiser at his home for Dr. Babur Lateef, Candidate for Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, VA on June 5th at 1 PM.

Please RSVP & contribute online: http://www.lateefforchair.com/Mahmood

Or by mail:

PO Box 5213 Woodbridge VA 22194
Phone: 703 405 8409
www.lateefforchair.com

PAKPAC Press Releases

US Forces Capture and Kill Osama Bin Laden

Obama Administration Abolishes NSEERS Policy

Pakistani Americans indicted for Taliban support

Archived Press Releases