Sada-e-Watan
Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
Pakistani Australian Federation Launches in Zyka Restaurant Sydney
Sydney (PAF Press Release by Ashhar Siddiqui): The Pakistani Australian Federation (PAF) was launched, on Saturday, June 19th 2010, in Sydney. It was an historic occasion for the Pakistani Australians. Great optimism was shown by the PAF members, community representatives and local media who attended the event held at local Zyka Restaurant, Riverwood (Sydney) NSW.
Over the last 25 years, the Pakistani community living in Australia has not only risen in numbers with people migrating to Australia but the 3rd generation of Pakistani Australians has also grown in numbers. The young children of those Pakistani families who migrated to Australia during the 1980s and 1990s are now raising their own families; similarly, the bachelors who migrated during that time are happily married and upbringing their children in Australia.
Miss Sarwat Hassan, as a master of ceremony & spokesperson of PAF opened the event with the brief format and introduction of the occasion. The event was opened with the recitation of Holy Quran by the member central executive committee, Syed Anis.
The founding Chief Patron of PAF, Dr Ali Sarfraz, in his welcoming address, thanks the guests for their presence at the occasion. He said that PAF was a long time need for the Pakistanis in Australia as the community was struggling to have one voice on various serious issues of Pakistani Community. He said that he is very proud of the founding team of of PAF especially Syed Atiq ul Hassan whom he asked to come forward and take the challenge.
The founding Secretary General, Mr. Mohammed Asif Khan, in his address, briefly explained the aims & objectives, organisational structure and manifesto of the PAF. He thanked the community members, guest and team of PAF for given him responsibility of being the Secretary General. He said that he would work in the best interest of the PAF in achieving its goals.
The founding Joint Secretary, Mr. Kamran Yousaf, distributed the hardcopies of aims & objectives, organisational structure and membership forms to the attendees. The detailed document contained the 7-point agenda of PAF which is:
1) Represent Pakistani Australians as an umbrella organisation in Australia
2) Unite Pakistani Community through educational, cultural and social activities and awareness programs.
3) Organise various events, objectively, to promote Pakistani professionals, artists, scholars, writers, poets, intellectuals and exceptional achievers
4) Strengthen links between Pakistanis in Australia and Pakistani foreign offices, Pakistani & Australian government/private agencies & organisations of interest
5) Build Pakistan Merkaz (Centre) aiming to deliver Community, Welfare & Social Services to the Pakistani Community in Australia
6) Build an Information Centre for new Pakistani Migrants, Youth and others
7) Build a Library/Heritage Centre to provide knowledge & education on Pakistan
According to the document, to achieve 7-Point Agenda, PAF will launch short and long term projects.
The founding President, Syed Atiq ul Hassan, in his address said that ‘feeling the need of the time Pakistani Australian Federation (PAF) has been laid down. The PAF will unite all the existing groups and community organisations in order to serve the community better. PAF is an independent organisation that is not affiliated to any political or religious party or group. PAF is the first Pakistani Community Organisation which has come up with very well defined and documented manifesto by the highly motivated professionals, technocrats, seniors and youth representing various demographics of Pakistan. Syed Atiq ul Hassan, who wrote a book on the history of Pakistanis in Australia ‘Australia For Pakistanis’ said that other ethnic communities were representing themselves by their one united platform and now it was the time for Pakistani Australians to represent themselves as ONE Pakistani Community. He welcomed all the Pakistani groups and individuals to join the federation, so that federation can support them in their events for Pakistan and Pakistani Community.
The Honourable guest of the occasion Mr Karl Saleh who was representing the Member of Parliament and the Mayor of Canterbury NSW, Hon Robert Anthony Robert Furolo, said that the Mr. Frulo asked him to convey the President Mr. Hassan and team of PAF for his full support. He said the Canterbury Council will fully support the PAF in achieving his wonderful goals for the Pakistani Community. He said, the being a journalist himself he knew Mr. Hassan very well and he assured the Pakistani Community Members that the federation is led by a very dedicated and committed person. He congratulated all the members of the PAF and the entire Pakistani Community. Another Guest, Ms. Nancy Dawidar, the President, Lakemba Chambers of Commerce, in her address congratulated the PAF members and the Pakistani Community and expressed full support from the Lakemba Chambers of Commerce.
A media conference was also held where the Mr. Ashhar Siddiqui the media secretary, Miss Sarwat Hassan master of ceremony & spokesperson of PAF, Syed Atiq ul Hassan President and Mr. M. A. Khan Secretary General answers the questions asked by the local Pakistani media associates. Answering to the questions the said persons mentioned that though the Pakistani Community has been represented by various groups and associations for the last few decades, these community platforms were unable to make a unified representation of the entire community and deliver the welfare, social and other services which are required by the community members of different backgrounds and ages. Pakistani Community has been stretched out significantly yet there is not a single Pakistani Centre or information office, anywhere, from where people particularly new comers can get any information about the Pakistani Community, Pakistan and Australia. The proceedings of the event were followed by delicious Pakistani food of Zyka Restaurant. For any further detail about PAF, Please ContactMr. Ashhar Siddiqui Media Secretary PAF by email on pakistaniaustralianfederation@gmail.com.
