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Torrance, CA: Anne W. Patterson,
US envoy to Pakistan, exhorted a
select group of Pakistani-Americans
in Torrance on March 5 to make sincere
strivings to ensure democracy
succeeds in Pakistan.
Addressing prominent community
members during her first
meeting with Pakistani expatriates
in Southern California, described
by many as a ‘historic’ occasion, the
Ambassador impressed upon the
gathering the paramount importance
of sustaining an effective democratic
dispensation in Pakistan. “We have
to do everything we possibly can,
all of us together, to ensure that we
maintain true democracy in Pakistan
and give the elected Government the
chance to succeed regardless of the
challenges the elected Government
faces,” she said.
Ambassador Patterson urged
the group of Pakistani-Americans to
be “more active in the political situation
in Pakistan.”
Perceptively, the ambassador
claimed that a wholesome change in
the economic situation of the country
was possible if overseas Pakistanis
were to substantially invest in the
country.
The ambassador was visibly
happy to meet the highly educated,
successful, and affluent members of
the Pakistani-American community
and lauded their contributions in
various fields in the United States.
Two prominent community
members – Mr. Pervaiz Lodhie and
Mr Shoaib Kothawala – were instrumental
in arranging the visit of Ambassador
Patterson to Los Angeles.
In his opening remarks, Mr.
Lodhie welcomed the Ambassador
and thanked her for meeting with
the vibrant Southern California Pakistani-
American community. Mr.
Lodhie also urged the Ambassador
to point out where Pakistan had gone
wrong and what role the Pakistani
Americans could play to improve
the life of ordinary Pakistanis.
Mr. Shoaib Kothawala informed
the Ambassador that the textile sector
was the backbone of Pakistan’s industry
and could receive a meaningful
boost if Pakistani products could
be allowed into US markets at zero
percent tariff. He commented that
Pakistan had suffered great collateral
damage from the War on Terror and
no one deserved more trade concessions
than Pakistan. He pointed out
that if the tariffs were withdrawn
there would be no threat to the US
textile industry as most of US textile
consisted of value-added products
that were not made in Pakistan. He
emphasized that by removing tariff,
the US would play a catalytic role in
creating millions of jobs in Pakistan
and simultaneously improving its
balance of payment situation.
Speaking next, Mr. Bob Din
commented, “We live here in this
country. We have earned our money
over here. So for us to give back in
any way is good in both ways. We’re
doing it here in the US and we want
to do it in Pakistan as well. You need
to give us access to people over here.
Whether it’s the State Department,
whether it’s US aid, and let the business
community over here step up.
We’re not talking. We will come with
our dollars also. Match them, double
them…”
Mr. Pervaiz Lodhie expressed
his concern over how little had so
far been done by way of political
advocacy by the community. “We
are almost zero compared to what
we should have been, having being
in the US for some 50 years.” There
is a pressing need to be heard in
Washington, DC, through people
like Congresswoman Jane Harman,
Congressman Adam Schiff,
and Congressman Howard Berman.
Everybody in the community
thought we could never have a talk
with Congressman Howard Berman.
I’m trying to get all the leadership
in Southern California to
understand that it is okay to have
personal groups and personal interests,
but once in a while we have to
also think collectively, and start financing
these advocacy efforts that
reach Washington, DC.” Mr. Lodhie
who owns a large LED manufacturing
company presented a slide show
about the history and accomplishments
of his company.
The group that met the ambassador
included Pakistani-American
community leaders from various
fields including hi-tech, software,
textiles, electronics, real estate, media,
banking, aviation, education
and medicine.
Later that evening Ambassador
Anne Patterson attended a gala dinner
hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Kothawala
in her honor at their beautiful
mansion in Beverly Hills. Along
with a very select group of Pakistani-
Americans, the dinner was also attended
by Congresswoman Jane
Harman and Los Angeles County
Sheriff Leroy D. Baca. |
