http://ncpaa.org/

PAA joins Pakistani American Congress 

Reported by Mujahid Hussain

The Pakistani-American Congress (PAC) is an umbrella congregation of various Pakistani associations spread all across the US. The purpose is to create a unified and strong political and social platform to protect the civil liberties of the Pakistani Americans. Currently, there are thirty Pakistani organizations from twenty-one different states listed with PAC. Asim Iqbal Alavi, a PAC representative is involved in initiating dialogue with new Pakistani organizations and convincing them to register with PAC.

One of the annual PAC events “The Pakistan Day on Capitol Hill” was held on June 7^th in Washington, DC, which was also attended by Congressman Coble from North Carolina. Since there was no organization registered with PAC from North Carolina, Asim Alavi contacted Mujahid Hussain, the president of Pakistani-American Association (PAA) in Raleigh and urged him to consider joining PAC.  The PAA could then follow up with Congressman Coble by encouraging him to support the cause of Triangle Pakistani community on Capitol Hill.

After much deliberation, the Executive Committee of PAA has seriously considered joining the Pakistani-American Congress. It is now registered with PAC and has become a member of its winning team. The EC might ask Asim Alavi of PAC to fly down to Raleigh and make a presentation to the community here about what PAC has done and what it plans to do.

The children reciting Naat, from L to R: Zanub & Khadijah Qadir, Iesha Arfeen, Naba & Nimra Khan, Maria & Rubia Arfeen.

The seventh Mehfil-e-Hamd-o-Naat organized by the Pakistani-American Association was held on Friday June 16^th at Cary Bond Park Community Center. Over 100 people attended an impressive program paying tribute to Prophet Muhammed in Naat and speeches.

Reported by Asif Rashid

An all hands meeting of PAA members will be held at Wellington Park Clubhouse on Saturday July 29, 2000 at 1 p.m. The following are the agenda items for the meeting:

 -  Joint Independence Day program with Durham group.

 -  Fund raising for drought affected people.

 -  Music program in September.

 -  International Festival in October.

 -  Picnic in the 2^nd week of November.

 -  Election and Annual dinner in 1^st week of December.

Snacks will be served free and please be there on time.

Dareecha (www.dareecha.org) is a non profit organization, which is created by a group of enthusiastic Pakistani entrepreneurs with the aim of providing plausible ideas to the Pakistan Government and to other private organizations for proliferation of Information Technology. Aisha Sarwari of Dareecha is creating a comprehensive database of Pakistani experts, who are in the Information Technology field. The database would basically contain names, emails and area of expertise of these IT professionals. The purpose of the database is to provide a pool for random selection of individuals who will critique proposals and white papers that are put forward. A presence of a large database of IT professionals will allow Dareecha to scrutinize and critique these papers with their help for further enhancements.

Hassan Imam of Cary, NC has been selected as a ‘Fellow’ of Dareecha organization. As a Fellow, Hassan will work closely with the Dareecha’s Executive Committee. Dareecha still needs people with IT credentials, background, experience, and passion for Pakistan.

On the evening of Saturday June 3, 200, about 350 people gathered at the Durham Marriot to attend the Valima reception party of Dr. Shoaib Lateef, son of Mr. Abdul Khaliq Lateef and Mrs. Nisa Lateef.  Dr. Shoaib Lateef was married last year in Pakistan to Dr. Mahvesh Lateef, daughter of Brigadier Zubair and Mrs. Yasmeen Zubair.  At the time, Mahvesh was in her final year of study, in medical school.  She completed her studies in April and joined her husband in North Carolina.  Approximately 80 relatives and friends came from all over the country to attend his function.  The food was catered by Bombay Grill and was excellent.  Dr. Shoaib Lateef is in his second year of residency in Wilmington, NC.  Dr. Mahvesh Lateef wants to pursue her career in health related research.  We wish the couple all the best in starting their new life together.

Qualified J-1 exchange visitors are a diverse and varied group.  This category is open to students, short-term scholars, trainees, teachers, professors and research scholars, specialists, physicians, international visitors, government visitors, camp counselors and au pairs who enter the United States to participate in a U.S. government approved Exchange-Visitor Program.

The purpose of the J-1 visa is cultural exchange - to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and sciences. Exchange visitors enter the U.S. for the purpose of gaining experience, studying, or doing research in their respective fields and then returning to their respective countries. The program was previously administered by the United States Information Agency and now is administered by the U.S. Department of State.

Depending on the exchange visitor category in which the visitor is admitted, the permissible period of stay will vary. For instance, participation in the au pair program is limited to one year, while a college or university student visitor may stay in the U.S. for the anticipated length of his academic program, as well as an additional training period after graduation.

While the exchange visitor visa offers individuals worldwide the possibility to visit the United States and gain valuable education and experience, the visa has definite restrictions.  For instance, the exchange visitor must maintain his foreign residence as evidence of his intention to return abroad.

Also, exchange visitors must have sufficient funds to cover all expenses, or funds must be provided by the sponsoring organization in the form of a scholarship or other stipend. Some exchange visitors may also be required to spend two years following completion of their U.S. training program in their home country. This two-year home residency requirement is understandable given the purpose of the J-1 program - cultural exchange.

Whether or not an exchange visitor is subject to the two-year home residency requirement is a complicated legal question. If the exchange visitor’s program was financed by their government or by the U.S. government, then he may be subject to this requirement. Also, even if the exchange visitor’s program was entirely privately funded, he may still be subject to the two-year home residency requirement if he is a national of a country that has been determined to clearly require the skills and services of people with the alien’s special training. And exchange visitors who come to the U.S. to receive graduate medical education or training may also be subject to the two-year home residency requirement.

If the exchange visitor is subject to the foreign residency requirement, a waiver of this requirement may be granted under certain conditions. An analysis of foreign residency requirement waivers is beyond the scope of this article and will be addressed in future articles.

By Robert B. Spiro, Attorney, Bashyam & Spiro, LLP, concentrating exclusively in matters involving Immigration and Nationality Law, (919) 833-0840.

In Barcelona, Spain Abida Parveen was in a concert hall full of excited Europeans chanting, "Allah! Allah!" Everyone there knew that she was a Pakistani. A small press conference the day before has already carried the news of her concert in all the leading newspapers plus her photograph and some personal information about her.

Catalans, like most Spaniards, do not speak English and are, therefore, not much aware of her importance, style or the manner in which an audience should behave during a concert of Abida's style. Further, Barcelona is still so enamoured of Nusrat Fateh All Khan that the press insists on categorizing her style of Singing as, qawwali and on comparing the two great singers. "The only difference between us is that he experimented with western music and I do not. I believe that the original needs no translation and that people will always seek out “The Original."

The double meaning of her statement is realized during her concert. In the packed hall, the audience is seated calmly and is talking in subdued whispers. As the lights go on, the three musicians appear with their harmonium, dholak and tabla. The audience greets them suitably. Abida walks into the limelight; sure-footed and smiling with arms raised in Her customary style of greeting. The audience reacts with more applause. She seats herself, dressed in black velvet with her ajrak covering her shoulders.

She sings, filling the hall with her strong vocals. It's a pity that microphones distort the sweet femininity of her melodious voice. The only two Pakistanis present with their Spanish wives and daughters begin to clap. When Abida gives the signal, more people join in the clapping. Her message and melody is enchanting. She sings in Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi and Saraiki. The audience hungers to understand the words. She sings on, fully aware of the situation, fully confident.

Her timing is impeccable in choosing to sing Mahi Yaad Gharoli. She repeats, "Allah, Allah!" The lone Pakistanis are emotionally overwhelmed. She raises her arms, gives the signal and the very walls of the hall resound with the full-throated words, Allah! Allah! Some people look at their companions mutually acknowledging the words as Spaniards, too, know that this is the original of their colloquial expression 'ala,' (oh, dear) that was repressed, distorted but not wiped out during the past five centuries of the Spanish Inquisition and later, Catholic governments.  But melody wins the day.

Abida goes on to sing her usual signature farewell, 'Mast qalandar,' bows and leaves amidst the deafening applause as the musicians gather up their instruments. They are all tired. They have to travel again early next morning. They have been told that once the concert is over, it's over for Catalans. Especially at the prestigious Auditori, formal concerts have a set and limited time frame.

The applause continues, the audience craving for more! The clapping becomes rhythmic.  Now it's not the three lone Pakistanis, scattered amongst the audience, who lead the petition! The usually morose Catalans have been enraptured. They begin to stomp their feet, also in tune with their applause and what the beat says is 'Otra! Otra!' (Another one, Another one, please!) Abida returns. She was absolutely right when she said that 'The Message' needs no interpretation.

She sings one song. In generosity, she signs another and a third. The audience understands that she has behaved in great humility in doing so, without awaiting dramatic exits and reentrance’s. When she rises again, they applaud loudly but allow her to finally exit. The people remark, "I want to know more about Pakistani Sufis.", "She's wonderful!" and            "When is she coming again?" Abida Perveen was a true ambassador for Pakistan in Barcelona. She prevailed, without any introduction, translation or mixing eastern with western instruments.

Every song that he sings becomes a hit. "I have literally taken over the film industry." Only Waris Baig can be bold enough to make such a cheeky statement. As he prepared to launch himself into the music world, his family became alarmed. They did not approve of it. "My elders wanted me to Concentrate on my studies alone and then join the family business," he said. "I went along with their wishes but continued with my music as well, and one fine day it took control of me."

With no training in music but a mind full of melody and a heart replete with euphonious strains, the guitar-playing Waris Baig of the 80s became the most sought-after film playback singer of the 90s. "When I came to rehearse for Sangam," says the reigning star;  "all I knew was how to play a guitar and a keyboard. My voice was not classically trained but I was confident enough to sing any number well. My jeans and T-shirt became the laughing stock in the music studio. The people there couldn't believe that a boy with this kind of dress could sing. But I succeeded and recorded the entire song in one go. This song, Saathi Merey, which was my first attempt at playback singing, won me the prestigious National Film Award."

Syed Noor introduced Waaris Baig to films. "I had never been interested in singing for films and had never seen a Pakistani film, yet I agreed to do it. The day I was to record the first number, Syed Noor came a little late thinking that I would still be rehearsing with the composer. But to his surprise, the song was already recorded and he was so pleased to hear it that he offered me to sing the entire soundtrack of Sangam. And since I was in a mood to shock further, I sang four songs, including the ever-popular Surmaee Badalon Kei Peechey, which I recorded in 15 minutes on the same day.

Waris has given many hit songs to the film industry in four years: Aa Pyaar Dil Mein Jagaa (Sangam), Raat Nashilee Baat Banalei (Chief Saab) and Nazara Dekh (Yes Boss) to name only a few. He attributes his success to a number of things. "I am very careful about the selection of poetry. It has to be romantic and soul stirring. Then I involve myself in the composition of the song. I make a lot of suggestions. And finally when it's time to sing, I put my heart and soul in it."

Today Waris is film industry's most popular singer. "That's because I am a very romantic person," he confesses with a smile. "It is very important to feel the mood of the song, understand the situation and put in the right expressions. Only then the song appears romantic."

But he must have faced some problems? "Never. I sing with great ease and adapt myself perfectly to all situations. If I had some problems in singing, would I be able to record a whole song in just 15 minutes? I have done that on various occasions." Doesn't classical music lend versatility to one's voice? He agreed. "But only if I were to sing classical and Semi-classical would I feel the need for training? As long as I can sing a film song in tune and with expressions, it's okay by me."

We become serious and I ask Waris why he has never sung a remixed number, something that has brought his contemporaries fame? The singer replies firmly: "When I can create an original number that becomes a hit, why should I sing a remixed one? I am known for my original superhits and I don't feel the need for remixing an old song. Singers who don't want to work hard or don't have the ability to compose something new may do this. I don't. But it's a pity that at the recent PTV World show, singers were given awards for remixed songs, and people like Sajjad Ali and myself who had original numbers were deprived of those awards. This is the reward you get for making something new and original."

Of all his female co-singers, Waris likes singing with Shabnam Majeed the most. "She has a very nice voice and it suits my voice too. Then she is also cooperative as a person." His most popular song, Kal Shab Dekha Meinay, is also the most controversial song, which is included in the soundtrack of two films, Shaan's Mujhey Chaand Chahiye and Syed Noor's Dil Deewana Hei.

Waris does not like the idea of working in a film. "You see I have achieved a status in singing and I don't want to tarnish that image. Pakistani films still have to improve their standard and unless I am sure of a project, I won't do it. I have seen my fellow singers spoil their image by working in bad films. I don't want to do that."

Ramzani and Subhani were best friends. They studied in the same school and college and also graduated together in electrical engineering from NED Engineering College, Karachi. Subhani started looking for a job in Pakistan but Ramzani had other ideas. His aim in life was to go abroad. He wanted to live a luxurious life and ensure a bright future for his next generations. Subhani thought he had his roots in Pakistan and would flourish better on the soil of his motherland. Ramzani called him an emotional coward, lacking initiative.

Ramzani reached USA. While Subhani in Karachi was able to get a junior management job with a Pakistani company manufacturing electrical goods. Ramzani started working as a pizza delivery boy in California. He soon financed a new Toyota Camry. Subhani on the other hand could only afford a motorcycle after two years.

In United States Ramzani started earning money fast. Subhani in the meantime gained valuable professional experience and was offered a middle-management job in a Karachi-based multinational company. While Ramzani was driving around in his Toyota Camry in California, Subhani could only afford a 1300 cc Suzuki Margalla in Karachi. Ramzani got married to a Pakistani girl settled in California and Subhani also married a well-educated girl in Karachi the same year.

On his daughter's fifth birthday, Ramzani purchased a new Mercedes Benz. Subhani was still driving his Suzuki Margalla. A few years later, Subhani was promoted to the grade of general manager and was given a 1600 cc Honda Civic by his company in Karachi. Three years later, Ramzani bought his own villa in California, while Subhani could only manage to purchase a decent apartment in Karachi.

Ramzani appeared to be far ahead in the race for better life but there were some incidents in between. His loving mother died in Karachi while Ramzani was in California and he couldn't make it because he had not been granted the green card till that time and his departure from USA was likely to risk his re-entry into that country. When his younger sister got married in Karachi, he was able to send her an expensive gift but was unable to attend wedding. Ramzani, who by now was known as Ramzi among his associates in California, had watched the videos of his sister's mayun, mehndi, shaadi and valima innumerable times, only to aggravate the pain he felt somewhere inside him, for missing these memorable occasions.

Lying on his bed at night, Ramzi pondered about what he had achieved and what he had lost in the bargain. He consoled himself on one account: he thought he had at least ensured a bright future for his children. His daughter was a teenager now. She was an American citizen by birth. She had many friends and Ramzi had accepted them. This only showed that his lovely daughter was popular among her friends. Ramzi however, got a rude shock when her dear daughter one fine evening introduced him to an Afro-American whom she had married a week earlier. Ramzi was terribly upset and was on the verge of behaving like Ramzani, but he soon realized his mistake. He congratulated the couple with a grim smile.

But often when lying on his couch he ponders in vacant and pensive mood, the Ramzani hidden somewhere inside Ramzi, rebukes him so hard that he had to take a heavy dose of sedatives to achieve serenity. As if that was not enough only two years later, Ramzi's lovely daughter took divorce from her husband, with the gift of a newborn baby girl. This Pakistani girl although born and brought up in America, her marriage with the American husband proved to be a cultural mismatch.

Ramzi's only son is currently living with his fiance in an apartment. "Don't worry dad, we'll soon get married", he explains to Ramzi, who consoles himself by thanking God that it is his son and not his daughter. Subhani in Karachi has purchased a flat in Clifton. His two daughters are married in respectable Pakistani families and his son after completing his MBA from IBA Karachi, is a manager in a pharmaceutical company.

Ramzi lives all by himself in his huge villa in California. His children are struggling independently, in search for their real identity. His wife died of heart attack a year ago.

At night in his warm and cozy bed, Ramzi remembers Ramzani who died long ago. His cozy bed turns thorny and he wets his pillow with a stream of tears. With the first ray of light in the morning, he wears the cloak of Ramzi again, and gets lost in the hustle and bustle of California, with a hat on his head and a smoking pipe in his mouth.

New York: Riding the New York city’s subways and buses has become an unexpectedly heartwarming experience for Urdu lovers who come upon translation of Pakistan’s renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem Sochnay Do (Let me think). It was not the proverbial graffiti scribbled on subways and buses. It was a part of New York City’s transit system’s “Poetry in Motion”. The 30-inch long colorful poster is displayed inside the subway and buses. The piece translated from Urdu by Agha Shahid Ali, is an excerpt from “The Rebel’s Silhouette” which reads:

You ask me about that country

whose details now escape me.

I don’t remember its geography,

nothing of its history.

And should I visit in memory,

it would be as I would a past lover,

after years, for a night,

no longer restless with passion, with no fear of regret.

I have reached that age

when one visits the heart merely as courtesy,

the way one keeps in touch.            (Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

  Burhan Ahmed who hails from Lahore, Pakistan is a young entrepreneur and in 1989 he graduated from NC State as an electrical engineer. In September of 1993, Burhan founded Allied Computer Corporation in Cary, NC.

Allied Computer Corporation is a one stop IT solutions provider with various technologies and services integrated into its core line of business. Allied Computer Corporation has become one of the premier computer networking companies in North Carolina. Burhan Ahmed proudly acknowledges: “We look at the whole picture, not just a piece of the puzzle. We are your One-Stop Solution Provider.”

Its networking services range from simple peer-to-peer networks for small businesses to large WANs and Intranets for larger corporate, educational and government clients.  Tools utilized to implement and maintain all sizes and types of networks include solutions from Microsoft, Citrix, Axent Technologies, Novell, 3COM, Cisco, WYSE, Intel, and a host of other companies.  For Wide Area Networks and Intranet connectivity It has partnered with a number of ISPs, DSL and T-1 service providers. As a result of its strategic business alliance with some of the leading manufacturers and service providers, it is able to supply a complete solution to any size client under one roof.

Allied Computer Corporation also sells Computer related hardware, personal computers, small to enterprise class servers, networking and communication equipment. Its cabling staff handles network cabling ranging from simple voice/data copper cabling to wireless, fiber optics and high-end Giga Speed cabling. The company networks are designed and implemented ONLY by certified professionals.

It also offers services ranging from Internet connectivity to revenue generating e-commerce web sites. The company designs host and maintain these sites for its clients. It provides web site development, hosting and e-mail services. Allied Computer Corporation uses its own servers running on super fast T1 link for web related services ranging from business web sites to large e-commerce sites.

Allied Computer Corporation is now located in Raleigh, NC. More information on the company is available from http://www.alliedcc.com. Burhan Ahmed lives in Cary, NC with his wife Kathryn and one-year-old daughter Sophia and his parents. His father, Muiz Ahmed is the Vice President of Allied Computer Corporation. Muiz Ahmed is a retired CSP officer and a scholar of History, Farsi and Urdu. He enjoys Urdu literature and very loyally participates and attends the monthly literary meetings of Urdu Majlis.

KARACHI- Nortel Networks and NCR Corporation signed a contract for setting up the complete IT infrastructure of Pak Telecom Mobile ltd. (PTML) project. The major IT components of this project include, Data Warehousing, Call Center, WAN Interconnectivity, Customized Software Development, Consulting Services, Management Information System, Billing and complete IT systems Integration. Veqarul Islam, Country General Manager, NCR and Christian Brault, Director Operation, Mobility Asia, Nortel Networks, signed the agreement. The set up will be the first of its kind in Pakistan, where IT will be used to drive the business forward, for decision-making and better customer services. The IT set-up will enable PTML to develop a culture of Customer Focus rather than Product Focus, thus building a better relationship with each customer.

NCR will be setting up state of the art Scaleable Data Warehouse for PTML. Having a Data Warehouse with an enterprise wide view of the organization will allow the Management of PTML to do better planning and predictive analysis, assisting them in taking effective and efficient decisions keeping in view the interest of the customers. The Call Center set-up will allow PTML to provide uninterrupted customer care and services. It will be the first Call Center set-up in Pakistan with Computer Telephony Integration allowing the customers to be served in most efficient way.

Country General Manger, NCR Corporation Mr. Veqarul Islam vows to continue with NCR's endeavor to promote and facilitate the use of Information Technology in Pakistan. About the project, he said "PTML IT” infrastructure will be the first of its kind in Pakistan and would generally contribute towards introducing a new culture of using IT for having a strong customer focus." Vice President Mobility, Asia, Nortel Networks, Mr. John Alvi emphasized that "PTML has an aggressive market rollout plan and the opening of the new Nortel Networks office underlines Nortel's determination to provide close and professional support to this important customer." Chief Executive Pak Telecom Mobile Ltd., Arshad Khan, said, "PTML views its IT set-up as the most vital component of the network. It will not only let us serve our customers better but will also let us understand them, which will translate in better products and services.