Joint peace rally held in US
WASHINGTON, Aug 15: A joint India-Pakistan peace rally, held to celebrate independence days of both nations, urged people in the two neighboring countries to ensure that the current peace process does not falter. The participants also signed a petition urging both the governments to ease all restrictions on cross-border travel at the earliest possible date. “We believe that when people lead, the political leaders are duty bound to follow,” was the unanimous message participants of the Peace Day celebration wished to convey to people of the subcontinent. They observed that the recent people-to-people interaction has established beyond doubt that common people on both sides of the border are eager to foster cultural, commercial, educational, and familial relationships with each other. Fifteen organizations of the Indian and the Pakistani community jointly observed the two independence days as a Peace Day at the University of Maryland, College Park. Prof A. H. Nayyar, a peace activist and professor emeritus, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, was the main speaker. He was happy over developments at different levels on both sides of the border but also he expressed concern that the peace process had not yet become self-sustaining. Although men and women on both sides are very enthusiastic about establishing friendly relations with each other, but the misgivings and suspicion of policymakers, politicians, military establishment, and bureaucrats on either side appear to be the reason for keeping the two nations apart. Prof Nayyar also outlined several areas of cooperation that have been established by the peace-promoting NGOs recently in India and Pakistan. Umesh Agnihotri, an Indian writer, read out his story Lakeer, which described the interaction of two families from either side of the border now settled in US; the children of both families wondered while there appeared to be no difference in regard to language, culture, food, and other values between the two families, then why there was a dividing line between them. Zafar Iqbal recited Yusuf Rahat’s poem Shanti that beautifully described the virtues of peaceful coexistence. The program included a short video of peace march from New Delhi to Multan last spring and poems and songs on friendship and communal harmony. The program was arranged under the leadership of Dr Mohan Bhagat, a senior professor at the University of Maryland and actively supported by a number of Indo-Pakistan community workers that include Dr Pervez Uppal, Dr Priya Ranjan, Dr Sirish Agarwal, Dr Zafar Iqbal, Shrikumar Poddar, Kaleem Kawaja, Rohit Tripathi, Sandeep Gupta and Vineeta Gupta.
20,000 Pakistanis migrating to Canada every year
JULY 27: Pakistan has become third leading country of origin of Canada's immigrants after China and India, as more than 20,000 Pakistanis are migrating to Canada every year, official sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday. Sources said 300,000 strong Canadian Pakistani community has been a champion of and contributor to multicultural ideal and represented in all areas of economy, from education, medicine and manufacturing, besides strengthening friendly and co-operative relations between Pakistan and Canada. They said Pakistan and Canada have historical development ties totaling more than $2 billion since 1950's when Canada helped Pakistan build Warsak dam on Kabul River near Peshawar and the country's first Karachi Nuclear Power Plant in 1960's. Sources said the Canadian International Development Agency is significantly contributing toward poverty reduction programs, gender equality, education, training, health and social sector development programs of Pakistan. Sources said Canada's immigration system was a model for the world, as it recently announced a series of measures aimed at improving delivery and efficiency of Canada's immigration and citizenship program. Sources appreciated efforts of Canada-Pakistan Association in Canada for helping migrating Pakistani families in finding social contacts among local community, especially of Pakistani origin, to interface and interact with cultures of Canada's multicultural mosaic and arranging cultural and social programs to promote Pakistani heritage, literature and social values.
Click here >

Top

Latest Diaspora News:
Sham marriages: Desi woman gets 10 yrs
Ali Samana's American dream
Cabbie stabbed, left for dead
Brothers to lead Qawwali music show
'We can't find sleeper cells'
Saudia now in 21st century
(Desi) Cindrella Cop
NRI professor appointed to US space comm
'Swades' in Bihar
Indian student deported from US for sex crime
UK's top speller is a Keralite
Run over by his taxicab
Indian beheaded in Saudia
Indian American probing 19th century artist's death
Outsourcing tutors
Hindu priest convicted of rape in UK
Jindal introduces first bill on Captol Hill
When Canada sneezes, Punjab catches a cold
Behind ‘Behzti’
The advent of Inquisition?
Dialing India for tuition
Desi in US jail for software piracy
Indians arrested in Dubai
"ABC" & "Times" of Jersey City slayings
Sham marriages- 25 desis convicted
Desi pizza owner's Fra Diavolo scams
"Punjabi Canadian zabaand hai"
Desi pizzas topple Canada Minister
Dialing India for tuition
Desi in US jail for software piracy
Indians arrested in Dubai
Dual citizenship for all NRIs
New law can deport naturalized US citizens
Selling a temple
Gunning down 'a desi'  in Mississippi
Stabbing a female preacher 33 times
UK imam jailed for rape of 12-year-old
Indian Americans live up to 'model minority' tag
Single and Asian? Try speed dating
Sikh-owned gas station burnt in USA
‘Chopped-up at home’
Indian family killed in cold blood
Dreams turn sour for young Indian docs in UK
Pakistani students turn sour on US
Bobby Jindal wins, makes history
Indian Americans in US polls
Bobby Jindal poised to be only Indian-American in US Congress
Canada wants more immigrants
The rise of Indian billioniare(s) in Canada
NRI marries sister to get Green Card
Kuwait wants 4,700 Pakistani workers
Muslim vote is anti-Bush, not pro-Kerry
Family of hate crime victim granted U.S. residency
Pak to emulate India's call center success
New Saudi law to benefit South Asians
Mizo 'bamboo man' creating ripples abroad
Delhi man dupes Indian girl in US
India-born bank teller sentenced to 13 months in prison in US
Canada wants Indian farmers
UK army eyes Sikh community
Sikhs are UK's top house owners
Chicago Police gets its first desi-American sergeant
Muslim women’s paintings being exhibited in New York
Saudi Arabia to deport foreigners violating Ramazan
3 Pakistanis held in Hong Kong
All new H1-B visas filled on opening day
Gandhi's statue unveiled in Houston
Asians avoid British Police
Mosque attacked in France
Gurkhas get UK citizenship
Ash 'twin' unveiled at Madame Tussauds amidst song & dance
2 Indians in list of US sanctions
Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways announces India, Pak flights
Vote Bush out, Indian Americans urged
Moderate Muslims call for regulatory body to train Imams
Foreign student slaughtered in stab frenzy
Ethnic recruiters learn from US
Khan mania hits the UK
NRI breast implant doctor being probed
2 NRIs plan to ‘revolutionize’ Indian potatoes
Indian sleeps on Chicago train, wakes to fame
How difficult is life for a Muslim in US
Adnan Sami rocks Durban and Johannesburg
Indian origin cab driver fakes death for insurance claim