Pakistani community celebrates Independence Day in Sacramento
The event boasted the Pakistani flag along with the US stars and stripes decorated on the stage
One-year-old Noraiz Ali points at a Pakistani flag that was to be lifted onto the stage Sunday during a celebration of Pakistan’s Independence Day at Cesar Chavez Park. PHOTO: SACBEE
SACRAMENTO:
The consul general of Pakistan in Sacramento took part in early Independence Day celebrations on Sunday while reiterating Pakistan's efforts to eradicate terrorism.
"The Pakistani government has redoubled its efforts to subdue and eradicate extremists of every caste, hue and shape; even as the threat of terrorism worldwide remains potent," said the consul general while joining in the celebrations at Cesar Chavez Plaza in Sacramento.
Based in Los Angeles, Hamid Khan said Pakistan had devoted considerable resources to fighting extremists, although that cooperation with the US has stirred some resentment back home.
Addressing a gathering at the event, Khan spoke on the potent global threat of terrorism.
Read:Dispelling notions: MQM-H to mark Independence Day with added fervour
“Terrorism is a global menace,” he said, adding that “More than 176,000 members of the Pakistani army have been deployed in a focused, intelligence-based operation in what is known as the mountainous tribal areas along the Afghan border."
Commenting on the Pakistani community which is perhaps the oldest Pakistani community on the West Coast, he said "we are proud of what it does to honour its heritage."
Raz Siddiqui, who organised the event reiterated that the Pakistani community in Sacramento is the oldest and has existed since nearly half a century before the birth of Pakistan since the 1890s.
The event boasted the Pakistani flag along with the US stars and stripes decorated on the stage.
Read: Meera to mark Independence Day in Norway
Interestingly, a 16-year-old Eehza Imran wore long, blue locks, at the event and exclaimed, "My parents let me dye my hair."
She added that "Most people don’t even know where Pakistan is – I have to show them.”
“Pakistan is not the religious fanatics who make the headlines,” said Siddiqui, who also helps run the online newspaper Pakistani Link. “Pakistani women go out and work in offices and fields.”
Sacramento is home to about 60,000 Indians and more than 20,000 Pakistanis.
The article originally appeared on The Sacramento Bee
The consul general of Pakistan in Sacramento took part in early Independence Day celebrations on Sunday while reiterating Pakistan's efforts to eradicate terrorism.
"The Pakistani government has redoubled its efforts to subdue and eradicate extremists of every caste, hue and shape; even as the threat of terrorism worldwide remains potent," said the consul general while joining in the celebrations at Cesar Chavez Plaza in Sacramento.
Based in Los Angeles, Hamid Khan said Pakistan had devoted considerable resources to fighting extremists, although that cooperation with the US has stirred some resentment back home.
Addressing a gathering at the event, Khan spoke on the potent global threat of terrorism.
Read:Dispelling notions: MQM-H to mark Independence Day with added fervour
“Terrorism is a global menace,” he said, adding that “More than 176,000 members of the Pakistani army have been deployed in a focused, intelligence-based operation in what is known as the mountainous tribal areas along the Afghan border."
Commenting on the Pakistani community which is perhaps the oldest Pakistani community on the West Coast, he said "we are proud of what it does to honour its heritage."
Raz Siddiqui, who organised the event reiterated that the Pakistani community in Sacramento is the oldest and has existed since nearly half a century before the birth of Pakistan since the 1890s.
The event boasted the Pakistani flag along with the US stars and stripes decorated on the stage.
Read: Meera to mark Independence Day in Norway
Interestingly, a 16-year-old Eehza Imran wore long, blue locks, at the event and exclaimed, "My parents let me dye my hair."
She added that "Most people don’t even know where Pakistan is – I have to show them.”
“Pakistan is not the religious fanatics who make the headlines,” said Siddiqui, who also helps run the online newspaper Pakistani Link. “Pakistani women go out and work in offices and fields.”
Sacramento is home to about 60,000 Indians and more than 20,000 Pakistanis.
The article originally appeared on The Sacramento Bee