Alumni get-together: ‘Student exchanges critical to Pakistan-US ties’

More than 250 attend US Consulate General’s Eid Milan.

LAHORE:

Pakistanis benefitting from United States exchange programmes can play a critical role in promoting ties between the two countries by removing misconceptions among the citizens, US Consul General Carmela Conroy said on Friday night.

She was speaking at an Eid Milan reception to honour the Punjab-based alumni of several US government exchange programmes for students and professionals. The event was organised by the US Consulate General Lahore in collaboration with the Pak-US Alumni Network (Punjab Chapter) at Expo Centre in Johar Town. More than 250 alumni attended the event.

The consul general hoped that the learning experience during their stay in the US would be valuable for the alumni throughout their careers.

She said it was a great honour for her to host the first ever get-together of the exchange programmes’ alumni. She said that these programmes were meant to promote understanding between citizens of both countries. She added there had not been a single year since their inception when a programme was not organised.

Earlier, Jennifer Larson of the US Consulate General distributed certificates among the alumni who had recently returned to Pakistan after completing their scholarship programmes in the US. Larson said the US had the honour of hosting the largest number of exchange programmes for Pakistani students and professionals.

Musical performances arranged by Peeru’s Cafe. The performances, according to the organiser, were rooted in the Punjabi tradition. These included a dhol performance by Goonga Mithu Saeen and a qawwali by Mian Miri. Saeen Zahoor stole the show with his singing with several US Consulate General officials and alumni dancing to it.

Mohammad Waqar Ahmed, coordinator of the Alumni Exchange Programme, said the exchange programmes offered scholarships in a wide range of fields so that people from diverse backgrounds could interact with one another.

Hajra, who has recently returned from the US, said that her views about the US before and after her visit were poles apart. “My stay in the US made me appreciate that it was a country of diverse peoples,” she said. She said she was now an active member of the Pak-US Alumni Network.

Sana Shoukat said she had recently attended a two-week programme on public policy. She said she had visited five American states and participated in various discussion sessions with US professionals during her visit to that country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2011.