By Hira Nafees Shah
The Pakistan U.S Alumni Network (PUAN) AJK chapter held its second annual reunion on Saturday, Nov.23. More than 100 alumni from across Azad Jammu and Kashmir enthusiastically took part in the event and made it memorable.
PUAN AJK General Secretary Tariq Shafi hosted the reunion and thanked the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section for their active support to the chapter.
“The whole purpose of the event is to bring together U.S. exchange alumni who all have a passion for giving back to society,” he said. He cited two success stories of AJK alumni who had made a difference in their communities in 2012.
Pakistan Educational Leadership Institute (PELI) alumnus Azmat Qureshi taught 10-12 illiterate females of her area how to read, write and most importantly how to sign their names. Saima Aslam who also benefited from the program told the audience that Qureshi also gave her some basic etiquette lessons and now she wants to learn how to use the computer.
Another PELI alum Shahid Gilani was recognized for helping to reopen the Muzaffarabad Computer Lab at a local high school. The fully equipped laboratory had been set up by UNESCO after the earthquake in Azad Kashmir, but was closed since 2005 due to the lack of skilled persons. Now with the efforts of Gilani, the lab is not only up and running, but the school is also offering full time computer science classes to its elementary students.
Ten exchange alumni were also given awards during the reunion for rendering meritorious services for the AJK chapter during the last year. These were Jamshed Naqvi, Azmat Qureshi, Fauzia Khan, Syeda Sultana, Shahid Gilani, Khawaja Jawad, Saqib Javed, Mohtarma Farah, Raja Naseer Khan and Tariq Shafi.
PUAN staff member Muhammad Sarfaraz Khan briefed the audience about the procedure for applying for an Alumni Small Grants, so that they can overcome problems that they face in their community.
The reunion also included performances by talented local Kashmiri singers who energized the audience.
