WASHINGTON: Pakistan has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the resumption of humanitarian assistance, not through just one corridor or one per, but through multiple passages, Ambassador Masood Khan said.
“The solution for Palestine is evident,” he told the Spring meeting of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) in Chicago. “Palestinians’ right to self-determination should be recognized,” the Pakistani envoy said.
The largest association of the Pakistani diaspora in the United States and Canada, APPNA, organized a meeting that included Pakistani-American physicians, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and other dignitaries. US Congressman Jamaal Bowman and Congresswoman Delia Remirez also addressed the gathering in a spacious hall.
Local media reported that Masood Khan praised APPNA’s services for their humanitarian efforts and thanked the organization’s president, Asif Mohiuddin, and the Chairperson of the 2024 Spring Meeting, Sajid Mehmood, for the opportunity to attend the event.
In a video message, US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar paid tribute to APPNA physicians for their dedication to medical education and community service. “I am forever grateful for how you all show up to make sure our communities are taken care of.”
Highlighting the contribution of the Pakistani diaspora, especially physicians, the Ambassador noted that 18,000 Pakistanis became American citizens this year, the majority of whom are doctors and physicians. Pakistan and the United States had two rounds of high-level health dialogues, wherein the two sides agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in healthcare.
“We have requested the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help us establish a CDC in Pakistan for disease surveillance,” the Ambassador said. “We have also decided to invest our time, energy, and resources in non-communicable diseases and the prevention of child and maternal mortality,” he added.
Regarding investments by Pakistani-American doctors back home in telemedicine, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical transcription billing, and other healthcare subsectors, Masood Khan urged the doctors’ community to increase their funding in Pakistan.
He reiterated that the Pakistani diaspora in the United States, especially doctors, engineers, and other professionals, were the most enduring link in the Pak-US equation. “It is a very resilient bond, and we are proud of it. This is an asset for Pakistan and for the US.”
Earlier, the Ambassador engaged with the Pakistani community at the residence of the Consul General of Pakistan in Chicago. The attendees included business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders. Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador mentioned significant investment opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in IT, agriculture, renewable energy, and extractive industries.
He emphasized the crucial role played by the Special Investment Facilitation Council in facilitating investments, removing hurdles, and ensuring a conducive environment for profitable business ventures in Pakistan.
—APP
