Ambassador Qazi's letter to the community (Dec 26, 2003).

Assalam O Alaikum,

The holiday season is upon us and the New Year is around the corner.
Accordingly, the Embassy and the Consulates of Pakistan in the US and I
send all of you our very best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2004.

2003 has been an eventful year. The President and the Prime Minister
both visited the US. The Camp David announcement in June of a multi year
assistance package for Pakistan was an important development.
US-Pakistan cooperation in the war on terror continued to strengthen.
The Pakistani community in the US had to face the NSEERS registration
program.

The embassy and the consulates have tried to reduce the difficulties
faced by the community. Our efforts have been useful and the NSEERS
program has now been modified by the US VISIT program which is
relatively non-discriminatory. Our website provides answers to most of
your questions regarding these programs. Our email service provides
prompt responses to your enquiries. Our interaction with the community
provides us with essential information about the needs of Pakistanis in
the US and an opportunity for us to explain how we are assisting them.

The coming year will be an election year in the US. Pakistani-Americans
must play an active role in all stages of the election process. You must
participate at all levels. More generally, other American communities
should see you as an active, concerned, cooperative, effective, dynamic,
informed, organized and united community. Only then will your views
count.

Get to know your local officials and all the prominent persons in your
local areas. Make friends with other Americans. Reach out to other
organizations. Make your presence felt. Learn the language. Know your
rights. Stand up for them. Obtain information about services and
facilities that your local government offers. Express your views. Write
to your representatives. Project your Islamic values, Pakistani culture
and American patriotism as much by example as by word. Give the best
possible education to your children. Above all, remain united and help
each other. Let Americans be proud of you as Americans of Pakistani
origin and Pakistanis proud of you as Pakistanis in America.

Recently, I met Pakistanis in New Jersey, Manhattan and Staten Island.
They were full of energy, questions, ideas, suggestions - and yes, some
had justified complaints. It was a learning experience. It was an
opportunity for me to inform the community of the efforts of the embassy
and consulates to improve our services for them. It was also an
opportunity to learn what more can and should be done.

I was encouraged to see how our communities in different places are
already mainstreaming themselves into the cultural, social, economic and
political life of the US. The Pakistanis in the US are not a static
community. They are a community that is making rapid strides. But they
still face many difficulties, especially since 9/11. However, with our
joint efforts these difficulties can be overcome.

I shall be meeting with our community in LA, Houston and Chicago soon.
Shortly, we expect to open new consulates in Chicago and Houston. In
Washington, D.C. we hope to establish a Jinnah Center in the beautiful
former chancery building on Mass Avenue in which the history, art,
culture, philosophy, perspective and point of view of Pakistan are
projected, discussed, studied and researched. This should lead to
greater understanding between Pakistan and the US. This project can only
succeed with the active cooperation and participation of the Pakistani
community in the US.

Please stay actively in touch with me and my colleagues in the embassy
and consulates. Our telephone numbers are listed on the embassy website.
My email address is ambassadorqazi@embassyofpakistan.org and
ashrafqazi42@yahoo.com. My telephone number (202) 243-3250 and fax
number is (202) 686-1465. Whenever I am out of town or office the
officer in charge of my office First Secretary, Dr. Sohail Khan, (202)
243-3254 will be available.

Beginning 2004, every Monday and Thursday I shall have an "Open House"
between 3: 30 and 4:30 pm in which you will be cordially invited to
visit me at the chancery (address: 3517 International Court, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008) or to make direct phone calls on any subject
that is of interest or concern to you. If you find the lines busy please
ring again. The above does not mean that you cannot get in touch with me
at other times. But the "Open House" times will be dedicated to meeting
you and taking your calls.

Once again, on behalf of my colleagues, my family and myself I wish all
of you the best of health, success and happiness in the coming year.
Pakistan Paindabad.

Ashraf Jehangir Qazi
Ambassador