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PAK LINK Australia 4th Anniversary Function was Celebrated in Sydney

Pak Link Magazine in combination with Citilink Finance hosted its fourth anniversary function on Friday 3rd May, 2013. The event was celebrated in magnificent style with fine cuisine provided by the community's favourite venue Himalayas grand function centre in Granville Sydney.

Kashif Amjad Vice President Pakistan Australia Business Council commenced the evening’s ceremony with an invitation to Chaudhary Anwar for recitation of the Holy Quran.

Over 25 community, political, diplomatic and religious leaders were guests of honour and each one was individually introduced. Over 30 sponsors who had advertised in the magazine were thanked as well as the 100 retail premises where the magazine is stocked and distributed free of charged. The readership in four years has grown to about 35,000 ethnic as well as local people.

It is an honour for Pak Link team that they have been invited to the Multicultural Ethnic Media gathering by the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Premier of NSW in multicultural awards ceremony.

Mr. Muhammad Asif Group CEO of Citilink Finance and Chairman/Managing Editor Pak Link discussed how this magazine was started with losses paid by Citilink Finance. This is an alternative community voice and praised other media partners like SBS Urdu and Mr Zafar Hussain of Sada-e-Watan www.sadaewatansydney.com for their help and continued support. He informed that Paklink is the only Pakistani community based magazine that is published regularly on a monthly basis unlike others and they don’t believe in black mailing or negative journalism. It should also be noted that His Excellency Abdul Malik Abdullah, High Commissioner Of Pakistan in Australia came all the way from Canberra to attend this function. He was mixed up with community people and met with local and federal politicians.

The Hon Ms Michelle Rowland MP Member for Greenway spoke on behalf of the Prime Minister and read the message of prime minister that was specially sent on this anniversary function.

The Hon Tony Issa represented the Premier of NSW and conveyed his message on the occasion. He praised the contribution of Paklink magazine that has penetrated in community and raising the voice of different ethnic groups.
Chairman Citilink and president Pakistan Association of Australia Mr Iftikhar Rana gave the closing speech thanking every one of the guests and sponsors and readers that have made Pak Link a continuing success.

Mr. Abdul Aziz Consul General of Pakistan discussed the trade, commerce and remittance figures of Pakistan with Australia and highlighted the contribution of Citilink Finance for sending huge amount of remittances to Pakistan. He said the state bank of Pakistan has built up its reserve and discussed the balance of trade figures.

His Excellency Abdul Malik Abdullah in his address welcomed Mehreen Faruqi being the first Muslim Pakistani lady pre-selecting in NSW upper house. He congratulated her for this achievement and said it is the pride of Muslims and Pakistan as well. He spoke in length and discussed the various issues faced by the Pakistan community like issuance of MRP in Sydney. He confirmed the passport machine has been installed and it will be working very soon in Sydney. He congratulated Mr Muhammad Asif and his team for issuing Paklink Australia being the only Pakistani based community magazine that is published regularly on monthly basis and portraying positive image of journalism. The HC  commends the material gathered covering local as well as international news in Paklink magazine.

Paklink awards were introduced in this anniversary function and four awards were given to those who had delivered and performed well in this last year, It was awarded to following persons:

1- H.E.Mr.Abdul Malik Abdullah High Commissioner of Pakistan in Australia, In recognition of his great contribution for uniting the community and taking lot of initiatives to build the strong relationship between Pakistan and Australia.

2- Syed Zafar Hussain Shah, Editor In Chief, Sada-e-Watan Sydney, In recognition of his great services in prompt online newspaper coverage and keeping community intact at all the times.

3- Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane MLC In recognition of his great contribution to all communities and raising the voice of local Australians in NSW Parliament. He is the first person to present the Holy Quran to NSW parliament.

4- Mr.Iftikhar Rana President, Pakistan Association of Australia, In recognition of his great services and contribution rendered in his four years tenure for bringing communities together.

It should be noted that the speeches were finished within the prescribed time and dinner was ready by 9pm which is very rare for Pakistani events in Sydney.

The guests were treated to a sumptuous array of traditional Pakistani cuisine of curries, rice, Tandoori Naans and a special vegetable sizzling hot tray and Kheer as desert.

All the guests and dignitaries took plenty of time after dinner to intermingle and chat and take photographs.
Pak Link would like to acknowledge the following dignitaries for attending the function.

His Excellency Abdul Malik Abdullah, High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr.Abdul Aziz Consul General of Pakistan, The Hon. Michelle Rowland MP, The Hon Shaoquett Moselmane MLC, The Hon. Tony Issa MP Granville, The Hon. Mehreen Faruqi MLC and Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian Chairperson CRC.

In the generous celebrations the elaborate dinner was provided free of cost to over 200 attendees.


His Excellency Abdul Malik Abdullah


Chaudhary Anwar Shad


MC Mr. Kashif Amjad


Muhammad Asif Chairman/Managing Editor Pak Link


Hon Ms Michelle Rowland Federal MP, Member for Greenway


The Hon. Tony Issa MP Granville NSW

Mr. Iftikhar Rana, President Pakistan Association of Australia

Mr. Abdul Aziz Consul General of Pakistan

First Pakistani & First Female Muslim MP Dr. Mehreen Faruqi, Mrs. Nafisa Khatoon And Shagufta Zia

Syed Javed Hussain, His Excellency Abdul Malik Abdullah and Chairman Edhi Foundation Mr. Zia Qureshi

 Muhammad Asif Group CEO of Citilink Finance & Chairman/Managing Editor Pak Link with Syed Zafar Hussain of Sada-e-Watan Sydney

 Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian Chairperson CRC and His Excellency Abdul Malik Abdullah High Commissioner of Pakistan

 Editor-in-Chief Sada-e-Watan Syed Zafar Hussain, The Hon. Michelle Rowland Federal MP and High Commissioner His Excellency Abdul Malik Abdullah


 Mr Muhammad Asif, Sadaqat Sadiq and Mr. Iftikhar Rana, President Pakistan Association of Australia

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