Mr. Sheikh joined the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA in 1997 as Chairman Publication Committee & conceived the official publication of PCC-USA “The Spokesman”. He was elected as the President of the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA in 2008. His term as President marks a long list of achievements, especially MoU between Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA with Trade Development Authority, Lahore, Islamabad, and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan.
In Pakistan, Mr. Sheikh held senior positions with the Pakistan Junior Chamber of Commerce (PJC) and Junior Chamber International. He has attended many International Conferences and Seminars to represent Pakistan. In 1992 he represented Pakistan at United Nation’s Conference on Environment & Economic Development in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Jeane Suave International Youth forum in Canada & JCI world Congress in Miami. He also led the Pakistan delegation to the “1994 South Asian Youth Invitation program” organized by the Government of Japan. In 1995 attended International Forum on Adolescent Health in Vancouver, & the 3rd United Nations International forum in Toronto, Canada. He currently serves as President of Houston Karachi Sister City Association.
Mission and History of HKSCA
The Houston Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA) is an inclusive organization, whose sole focus is mission is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, & cooperation one individual, one community at a time.
Created in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Sister City International’s (SCI) goal is to develop municipal partnerships between U.S. cities, counties, and states and similar jurisdictions in other nations. SCI also works with ordinary citizens to participate in people-to-people exchanges and to build long-term partnerships between U.S. and international municipalities. SCI represents more than 700 U.S. communities and nearly 2,500 partnerships with sister communities in 134 countries. Established in Houston in 2009, HKSCA is the newest member of the SCI family.
Sister Cities International creates relationships based on cultural, educational, information and trade exchanges, creating lifelong friendships that provide prosperity and peace through person-to-person “citizen diplomacy.” Since then, Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and now President Barack Obama have served as the Honorary Chairman of Sister Cities International.
Since its inception, Sister Cities International has played a key role in renewing and strengthening important global relationships. Early partnerships included a trading relationship between Seattle, Washington and Tokyo, Japan, repairing post-WWII tensions by creating cultural and educational exchanges and, subsequently, lasting friendships. A 1974 study found that many early sister city relationships formed out of the post WWII aid programs to Western Europe. The relationships that endured, however, were based on cultural or educational reasons that developed lasting friendships. Sister Cities International improved diplomatic relationships at watershed moments over the past 50 years, including partnerships with China in the 1970s.
In the new millennium, Sister Cities International continues to expand its reach to new and emerging regions of the world. Today, it dedicates a special focus on areas with significant opportunities for cultural and educational exchanges, economic partnerships, and humanitarian assistance.
Karachi has the honor to be sister city of Houston from Pakistan and to have established such as agreement with a City in the United States. The agreement for the sister city partnership was formalized with the mayors of these two great cities in 2009,after formal signing ceremony by then Mayor Bill White of Houston and then Mayor Mustafa Kamal of Karachi in Houston, Texas.
It’s Goals
Increase cultural and educational exchange to improve understanding and promote interaction between the people of Houston and Karachi. Help build bridges of friendship and commerce between these two vital centers of culture and finances.
Support individual and civic exchanges that foster better understanding and appreciation between citizens of the two cities. Develop ongoing projects and events to promote cultural and people exchanges as well as economic development opportunities
