KARACHI, April 6: The committee set up to approve Karachi-Chicago as “sister cities” gave consent to this proposal, which will soon be signed by Chicago City Government and Karachi City District Government. This was stated at a meeting held on Wednesday in the office of Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan. The representative of Chicago City Government, Tariq G. Malhanens, told the meeting that on the desire of Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan, Karachi and Chicago were being declared as sister cities.

The committee of Chicago City Government had already given approval to this proposal in principle and now the modus operandi would be worked out for an agreement between the two city governments in this regard, he said.

Addressing the meeting Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan pointed out that thousands of Pakistan-born Americans were living in Chicago and were playing an important role towards economic and business activities there and rendering services in hospitals and various corporations.

He said both Karachi and Chicago were very important cities and after their declaration as sister cities, there would be further improvement in links and contacts at public level. He said this decision would also delight thousands of Pakistanis living there.

Tariq Hasan said that there were similarities in the transport, culture, politics and industry of two cities and both were important cities of their respective countries.

He observed that with the exchange of delegations in education, health and other sectors, both would have the opportunity of benefiting from each other’s experiences and knowledge.

He expressed the hope that steps would be taken for promotion of Urdu language and literature in Chicago and in this regard special programmes will be initiated to teach Urdu in public schools which would help children and young people to have comprehension about Pakistani culture.

The naib nazim particulalry thanked the Mayor of Chicago who, he said, provided an opportunity of bringing the people

of two cities closer to each other.—APP