ISLAMABAD, MAY 10 /DNA/ – US Ambassador Donald Blome has addressed the fifth annual Humphrey Alumni Conference. I want to thank Federal Secretary, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani for joining us – for your insightful words and all your work to support the education foundation and all of our educational efforts.
I also want to thank Rita, Mazhar, and the entire U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) and Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) teams. You have not only organized what I am sure will be a great conference, but also continue to engage U.S. exchange alumni – like those here today – in creative and innovative ways. Thank you for your years of partnership and support.
And of course, thanks to all of you, our distinguished Humphrey alumni. Each of you was chosen for this conference because you demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility – the theme of our conference. You are making your communities, Pakistan, the United States, and the world a better place.
Through your work and as a part of this community, you are a bridge between Pakistan and the United States, deepening our mutual understanding and advancing our shared goals.
Along with the other 44,000 PUAN members from dozens of other U.S. exchange programs, you are helping to address some of the world’s biggest challenges – from tackling climate change and preventing social conflict to championing equal rights and promoting public health, each of you is making a difference.
In January, I had the honor of sharing a PUAN stage with Humphrey alumnus Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib, who, as you all know, established Akhuwat. Through his groundbreaking microfinance programs, he and his teams have supported more than 5.2 million Pakistanis living in poverty, increased access to education for children throughout the country, and established a socially responsible microfinance model that serves as an example to countries worldwide.
Another Humphrey alumnus, and a champion of human rights, Ramesh Jaipal escaped forced child labor, earned a Humphrey fellowship, studied law and human rights at American University in Washington, and is now leading the fight for equal rights for religious minorities, including by drafting the first Pakistani Hindu Marriage Bill in 2017.
Just last month, I had the honor of speaking alongside Muhammad Atif, our 2023 Distinguished Humphrey Alumnus, at the first PUAN Accessibility and Inclusion Job Fair. And since his Humphrey fellowship, Atif has not only successfully advocated for the rights of persons with disabilities across Pakistan, but has become a global leader for that cause.
These are just a few of the remarkable Humphrey alumni stories. Each of you brings your own successes and your own stories to this conference and your communities.
I hope this weekend is an opportunity to learn from one another, to celebrate one another’s accomplishments, and continue to collaborate as a Humphrey and PUAN community.
So once again, thank you to all of you for what you’ve done for Pakistan, what you have done for U.S. – Pakistan relations, and what you are doing for our shared planet. I wish you a successful and memorable Humphrey Alumni Conference.
