Houston: Hundreds of ardent fans of Urdu Literature and Poetry thanked Mohommad Zafar, Perwaiz Jafri, Ishrat Afreen and Dr. Shagufta Riaz for organizing a most memorable evening with the legendary Zia Mohyeddin.
In his own words, Zia Mohyeddin called it a Bouquet from him to the people of Houston. Perwaiz Jafri thanked everybody to have gathered on time and within a weeks' short notice to have come to listen to the gripping presentation by legendary Zia Mohyeddin. Dr. Surraiya Saleem introduced the guest in her customary cheerful manner.
Zia Mohyeddin has the art of captivating the audiences for hours due to his passionate presentation and exquisite expression. He started this Houston Bouquet Show with a bang with a good-humored story from the translation done by Akhtar Sheerani of Arabic Book Jamael-e-Hakayat. During his presentation, he selected literature and poetry pieces, which use humor to bring out the problems we have in eastern societies because at times people at the world in a myopic manner and/or at times misinterpret from things in our religion(s). At the same time, he presented excerpts about the problems of western societies.
Sugar Land: After winning the Mayoral Run-Off Elections for the City of Sugar Land, in his after-victory speech to a gathering of around 200 public officials, campaign workers and well-wishers, the 9th Mayor of Sugar Land James "Jimmy" Thompson especially mentioned about the "Desi" Community.
He thanked Weeklies Pakistan Chronicle and Pakistan Journal for giving excellent coverage of the elections and readily agreed to pose with the last weeks' copy of Pakistan Chronicle. In his speech, he especially acknowledged the efforts of Assistant Surgeon and Community Activist Dr. Mubashir Chaudhry for his overwhelming efforts and support.
"Behind my win are the prayers and well wishes of my supporter, especially I want to mention my wife Gay and children Michael, Tara and Meredith. Other than that there were three most energized ladies, who literally ran this campaign and I cannot thank them enough. They are Susan Barnes of W. J. Interest, LLC., Mary Von Tunglen and Kim Icenhower."
Present of this occasion were Fort Bend County Judge Robert "Bob" Hebert, Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 4 James Patterson, former Mayors of Sugar Land Lee Duggan, Dean Hrbacek, Present City Councilpersons' Thomas Abraham, Jacqueline "Jacquie" Baly Chaumette, Dennis Parmer, Donald Olson & Michael Schiff and many other elected officials and dignitaries of the city.
Houston, TX: Port of Houston is the 10th largest port in world; 2nd largest petrochemical complex in world, receiving 150,000 barge calls. These were some of the statistics presented by the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) Commissioner James Edmonds and Executive Director Thomas Kornegay, as the PHA celebrated the 6th anniversary of the Small Business Development Program of PHA.
Mistress of the Ceremonies was Melinda Spaulding, Anchor at KRIV Fox 26 News. Prominent speakers on the occasion included the Honorable Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge; Honorable Sylvia Garcia, Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2; Honorable Sue Lovell, Vice Mayor Pro-Tem City of Houston Council and Kase Lawal, PHA Commissioner and Chairman of Small Business Task Force. In attendance were several elected officials, their staff members, special guests and prominent entrepreneurs of the region.
Commissioner James Edmonds and Mr. Kornegay informed that over $203.70 million worth of projects have been given to small enterprises since the inception of the program six years ago. This would mean 37% of small business participation in PHA projects. More than 1,100 small businesses are registered in the program and the number is increasing every day. Terence Cheng of TSC, Inc. and Gary Crouch of Crouch Environmental Services, Inc. were given special recognition as the "Biz Champions' for Year 2007".
Dallas, TX: Pakistan People Party’s slain chairman Benazir Bhutto’s 55th birthday was celebrated at the home of PPP Dallas GS’, Raja Zahid Khanzada in Arlington. The PPP workers and supporters lit candles on the Memorial of Benazir Bhuto. Mr. Khanzada cut the birthday cake, which was decorated with the colors of PPP’s flag.
Addressing the workers on the occasion, Mr. Khanzada said, “ Benazir Bhuto is no longer here, but her political philosophy will live forever in the heart of the PPP workers and in the history of Pakistani politics.”
He added, “when we light candles it means we are making a promise to her that we will continue her mission of the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.”
WASHINGTON: The 31st Annual convention for the APPNA (The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America) is going to be held at the Wardman Park Marriot Hotel in Washington, D.C. It is going to run through June 25-29. APPNA summer meeting is the largest gathering of Pakistani American Physicians every year with the attendance of over five thousand people. The attendees of the event include the physicians their families, The APPNA bazaar vendors, The media personalities, politicians and people from all walks of life.
The convention will offer fourteen hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME). It will also feature events like the Day at the Hill, Seminars and Panel Discussions, Alumni and Alliance programs, Council and General body meeting with the new council elections. There is also going to be entertainment and Mushaira, Socializing and sightseeing and shopping.
APPNA Expo 2008 will feature 130 booths that will exhibit products and services from all around the world. The exhibitors at these booths get to show the variety of products and services like the Pharmaceuticals, bio-technology, investment, real- state, clothing, jewelry, charity and the NGOs.
