ISLAMABAD: Sabika Sheikh was adventurous and wanted to make the world a better place, like all members of the Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN), said US Assistant Secretary of State for Education and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce.

Sabika Sheikh was one of 10 students and staff killed in a mass shooting in Santa Fe in May this year.

“There will never be enough words to express the heartache I feel for her family and friends. She was a true role model and shining example of tolerance and compassion,” Ms Royce said at this year’s PUAN International Conference on Friday.

Artist Sheema Kirmani calls on all to follow the values of tolerance, diversity, pluralism and inclusivity

American Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires John Hoover also participated in the event along with some 200 alumni.

Some of the alumni at the conference included Nazir Sabir who is the first Pakistani to summit Mount Everest, attorney Remesh Jaipal and performing artist Sheema Kermani.

They all spoke about the transformative power of exchange programmes and people-to-people ties in advancing shared American-Pakistani goals.

The three-day conference focuses on Pakistani-American partnerships in cultural industries, entrepreneurship and international education and promotes shared values of tolerance and social inclusion.

Assistant Secretary Royce highlighted the conference’s goal to support Pakistan’s domestic growth and international trade.

“Many of you know that the US is Pakistan’s largest market with bilateral trade topping Rs663 billion this year,” Ms Royce said, appreciating the contributions by alumni in advancing communities in the US.

“Whether is supporting tourism and cultural industries or advancing entrepreneurship and technical education, American-Pakistani connections in all fields will only benefit both our countries,” she said.

“There is no group like the Pakistan-US Alumni Network,” Mr Hooover said.

“The 25,000 members of this community possess staggering power. You have resources, knowledge and ambition to shape Pakistan and the future of the region,” he added.

Sheema Kirmani called on all to follow the values of tolerance, diversity, pluralism and inclusivity and said this can only be done through art and culture, dance and music.

“I urge all of you to preserve this beautiful character of our land and denounce sentiments of bigotry, extremism and hatred in any form. I will continue to do this through my art, through my dance and urge you all to do so as well,” she said.

Nazir Sabir shared his experiences of summiting Mount Everest with American climbers.

“I dream of peace and hope, to see peace that will come from people-to-people contact, the most effective form of friendship,” he said.

Mr Hoover joined other guests in opening an art exhibition featuring work by emerging Pakistani artists and prominent alumni of US-funded exchange programmes.

The exhibition was organised by PUAN in cooperation with Nukta Studios and the Satrang Gallery in Serena Hotel.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018