IndiaPost.com - Pak-Americans gift engg varsity to Pak

LOS ANGELES: Friends of Pakistan have decided to build one engineering university in Pakistan as a gift from Pakistani-Americans to Pakistani people.

This was announced by Sarfaraz Khan, President of Friends of Pakistan, USA on March 23 Pakistan Day event which was held at Shahnawaz banquet hall in Lakewood, CA. All India Muslim League adopted Pakistan Day Resolution on March 23rd 1940 and after seven years India and Pakistan become Independent states.

Since then this day is celebrated by Pakistan and it's an official holiday in Pakistan. Friends of Pakistan, a grassroots organization, celebrated this event in a dignified manner. Hundreds of people, especially youth, showed up in large numbers. Khalid Khaja, a prominent poet in Los Angeles area was the master of ceremony.

The audience stood up when the national anthem of USA and Pakistan started by Tahir Hussain and orchestra. Sarmad Bukhari, a youth and President of Youth MSA in Santiago High School in Corona, spoke about the significance of the day. Fatima Khan performed an excellent Naat. FOP secretary general Tariq Altaf explained Friends of Pakistan's objectives and its future plans. Sarfaraz Khan, founder-president of Friends of Pakistan, USA detailed his vision of unity and asked every one present what they had done for their motherland. He suggested uniting under Friends of Pakistan umbrella and offered dialogue to be continued with other faiths.

Chief guest of the evening, Ibne Abbas, Consul General of Pakistan in Los Angeles, came to the stage and read a message from President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf. The highlight of the evening was a quiz program, in which Samia Hai asked questions about Pakistan and paid cash prizes to winners. After a delicious dinner served by Shahnawaz restaurant, LA's famous Pakistani singer Tahir Hussain and Azra Malik sang national songs of Pakistan with live band of Umair Ibrahim, Zeesha and orchestra. these young kids perform live music wonderful. This evening went well until 1 am.

He also discuss about March 23rd 1940 when this Pakistan resolution passed. He said every one of us has a debt to pay to Pakistan in any shape and any form. Please come forward and help FOP to achieve its goal. He loudly announce that FOP will bring and Engineering University to Pakistan where can provide quality study to our generations and this will be a gift from us to Pakistani people.

This will be a small amount of debt that we can pay to our motherland. Lastly, he thanked to all of his team members, board of directors, trustees and volunteers. He also thanks to all audience. In his speech he emphasizes to be unite and think for Pakistani people who are living in poor and they need our help. He also thank to FOP who are bringing and engineering university to Pakistan. This quiz show was the first of its kind ever presented in Los Angeles area and hundred of participants especially number of young kids and youth enjoyed while they learn lot knowledge about Pakistan and its history.