Riyadh (PWC) hosted a select gathering to honor three notable members for having obtained coveted positions as the executive members to the Board of Governors of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF). Sanobar Sani, PWC vice president and a renowned photojournalist, was the chief host of the function held in Riyadh last week. In his welcome speech, Sani lauded the three new OPF executive members, Shamshad Siddiqui, Mohammad Asghar Qureshi and Khaled Mahmood Choudhry, for their long and valued services to the Pakistani communities in Riyadh. Faiz Al-Najdi, PWC patron and its former president, said it is an “honor to have three members from Riyadh on the OPF Board out of a total of eleven members from across the globe.” He said it is a coincidence that the three also represent the Pakistan Investors Forum (PIF), Riyadh. Khaled Mahmood Choudhry is the president of PIF; Shamshad Siddiqui is its secretary general while Mohammed Asghar Qureshi was a senior and a founding member of PIF. Al-Najdi called upon the three OPF Board members to highlight their vision and mission for serving the OPF Board. He also cautioned them to be mindful of the fact that now that they had been entrusted with greater responsibilities, the Pakistani community in the Kingdom reserves the right to demand a report on their performances at the end of their tenure at the OPF. He assured them of the PWC's cooperation in their endeavors. Qureshi, chairman of Qureshi Group of Companies and chief coordinator of PPP-Saudi Arabia, in his speech said that as a member of the OPF Board, he will do everything to protect the rights of overseas Pakistanis and raise their issues during the OPF meetings. Siddiqui, managing director of Amaq Construction Company and Middle East coordinator of Muhibban-e-Pakistan, said he had successfully raised the issue of funds to be made available from OPF for the construction of a new campus for the Pakistani school in Riyadh, the land for which has already been purchased by the school management. He also cautioned the audience not to havevery high expectations from them as their mandate was “too restricted”. The program also included a poetry recitation session, in which renowned poets of Riyadh, Shaukat Jamal and Syed Nehal Uddin, participated. The program was conducted by Choudhry Rehmat Ali, PWC secretary general. PWC president Syed Bashir Ahmed proposed the vote of thanks. __
