New Jersey USA : Despite a statewide snowstorm warning and official alerts restricting heavy-vehicle traffic, Mujtaba House in New Jersey hosted a remarkable diplomatic dinner attended by over 300 guests, demonstrating the strength of the community’s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and inter-parliamentary engagement.
The distinguished delegation from Pakistan was led by:
• Senator Saleem Mandviwala, Chief Whip of the Senate of Pakistan
• Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Affairs.
They were joined by a team of Pakistani businessmen visiting the United States for Parliamentary outreach, trade exposure, and investment-related engagement.
The evening reflected the multicultural character of the South Asian and broader American diaspora. Guests included Pakistani Americans, Indian Americans, Bangladeshi Americans, civic leaders, business professionals, faith representatives, physicians, journalists, and community elders.
Notable community guests included:
• Dr. Ijaz Ahmed (APNA)
• Mr. Sarwar Choudhry
• Dr. Razzaq Mannan, MD
• Mr. Saleh Ghani, President, Central Mosque of Bangladeshis in Paterson
• Mr. Dharmesh Rana, General Secretary, Indian Association
• Mr. Punkaj Rana, President, Indian American Senior Citizens Association
• Ms. Jasvanti Rana
The event was also attended by local elected officials, underscoring the diaspora’s civic presence. Councilman Tony Latona and Commissioner Ahab Hussain participated and acknowledged the community’s positive contributions to New Jersey’s pluralistic landscape.
Senator Saleem Mandviwala and Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan addressed the audience, expressing gratitude for the warm reception and emphasizing:
• The need to strengthen U.S.–Pakistan relations through direct parliamentary and institutional dialogue
• The potential for trade, investment, and business cooperation
• Shared interests in regional stability and security
• The vital role of the Pakistani American diaspora in shaping bilateral goodwill
Host Dr. Gholam Mujtaba, Chairman of the Pakistan Policy Institute USA, received the delegation and highlighted:
• The strategic importance of people-to-people diplomacy
• The bridge-building role of the diaspora in foreign relations
• The value of multicultural inter-community engagement is evident from the Indian and Bangladeshi American participation
• The policy-focused, non-lobbying, and FARA-compliant approach of PPI-USA
• The significance of economic, academic, and legislative collaboration between Pakistan and the United States
Despite adverse weather, the evening concluded with a strong message of goodwill, unity, and forward-looking cooperation. It reaffirmed the power of diaspora-driven diplomacy and set an encouraging tone for continued engagement between the U.S. Congress, Pakistan Senate, private-sector stakeholders, and civil society.
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