More than 250 alumni of various US government-sponsored exchange programmes participated in the Pakistan-US Alumni Network’s (PUAN) annual Lahore alumni reunion here on Friday.
The event was organised for the thousands of Pakistanis who have participated in exchange programmes. Some low-budget grants were also awarded to the alumni members.
US Consul Genera in Lahore Nina Maria Fite, in a recoded message played at the event, said that the US government invests nearly $40 million annually in exchange programmes for Pakistan. More than 1,000 Pakistanis participate in high school, undergraduate, graduate and professional exchange programmes every year, she said.
Fite said that Pakistan had the largest international visitor leadership programme in the world, with nearly 200 Pakistanis visiting the United States every year through the programme. The participants were selected for being rising leaders and opinion makers in government, public policy, media, education, labour, the arts and other fields.
She said the US government provides more funding to the Fulbright academic exchange programme in Pakistan than anywhere else. Approximately 375 Pakistanis are currently in the United States as part of the programme.
PUAN Lahore President Dr Waseem Anwar said the network had eleven regional chapters across the country and engaged more than 12,000 alumni of various US government overseas and in-country exchange programmes to strengthen people-to-people ties. He said the PUAN’s mission was to build upon the shared intellectual, social, cultural and democratic values of the people of Pakistan and the US.
“The objectives of PUAN include facilitating individuals and institutions in both countries to enhance recognition and understanding by fostering dialogue and sharing knowledge and best practices. One of its objectives is to find ways and means to broaden the PUAN’s impact and to ensure sustainability by expanding its scope of activities, membership and resources,” Dr Anwar said. Alumni members also staged a skit with characters from the Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. A musical performance was also arranged.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2013.