These were the sentiments’ expressed on the occasion of the Honorable Consul General of Pakistan in Houston Afzaal Mahmood. He was communicating as the Guest of Honor at the “Meet & Greet” networking Luncheon organized by the Houston Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA) in the honor of the high ranking delegation of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). Established in 1952, RCCI is one of the premium trade and industry forums of Pakistan, with about 5,200 members from diversified variety of businesses.

Among the distinguished delegation included President of RCCI Syed Asad Mashadi, Raja Amir Iqbal (Former VP of RCCI and Chairman of Foreign Affair Committees, Province of Punjab), Mohammad Khurshid Barlas, Muhammad Ayaz Malik, and many others.

In order to welcome the RCCI Delegation to Houston in a befitting manner, the Houston-Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA) under the leadership of Muhammad Saeed Sheikh arranged a “Meet & Greet” Luncheon Meeting, which was attended by the Honorable Consul General of Pakistan Afzaal Mahmood, Commercial Attaché of Government of Pakistan Syed Fawad Ali Shah, President of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) M.J.Khan, President of South Asian Chamber of Commerce Nomi Hussain,President of Pakistani-American Association of Greater Houston (PAGH) Mian Nazir, President of PCC-USA Waseem Akhtar, and many others.

Emcee of the event was young attorney Omar Khawaja, also an executive committee member of HKSCA. President of HKSCA Muhammad Saeed Sheikh welcomed the delegates, and introduced HKSCA as an organization worked very closely with the Mayor’s Office of the City of Houston, whose job is to establish people to people ties in the fields of trade, education, healthcare, & humanitarian services; between these two cities Houston & Karachi, and in turn USA & Pakistan.

Former Honorary Investment Advisor of Government of Pakistan Zafar Zaf Tahir stressed upon the Pakistan-American Community to become active and play important role in American economy. Pakistani-American Community throughout USA should place in front of Congressional Leadership the things which are good for both Pakistan and USA; like for instance strongly asking for the Bilateral Investment Treaty. He also emphasized that other than textile goods, Pakistan has much to offer. So side by side with the textile goods, Trade Shows and Trade Delegations from Pakistan should also bring other large manufactured products of Pakistan to introduce in USA.

Founding Member of HKSCA and President of ISGH MasrurJaved Khan said Pakistani Community needs to remain be active in the public square; rather than being on the menu, they need to be at the table; and in saying this he announced his candidacy for the City of Houston Controller Elections of November 2015.

Introduced by Chair Trade & Commerce Committee of HKSCA Khalid Kazi, Syed Asad Mashadi, President of RCCI thanked Muhammad Saeed Sheikh for arranging such a nice luncheon, and said more entrepreneurs from Pakistan will be visiting USA & Texas.

“I did not know that economy of the State of Texas is larger than many countries. As such there is need to organize a large Pakistan – Texas Trade & Business Symposium.” Said Syed Asad Mashadi (President RCCI).

On this occasion President HKSCA Muhammad Saeed Sheikh presented the Mayor Annise Parkers Special Welcome recognition to Syed Asad Mashadi, President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Khurshed Barlas & Raja Amir Iqbal Chairman of RCCI Foreign Affair Committees, & other members of the delegation, While President Mashadi of RCCI also presented a Memento of Appreciation to President HKSCA Muhammad Saeed Sheikh.

Vice President of HKSCA Muhammad Zaheer thanked the delegation and Media which was followed by sumptuous luncheon of the Bijan Persian Grill.