| | USPAK Foundation e-letter Promoting the ambitions and aspirations of Pakistani Americans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 2012 Volume 2
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Contact Us 202 505 4 PAK
| USPAK wishes its supporters Eid Mubarik, and may your prayers and supplications get fulfilled. Help us Help YouUSPAK is a volunteer organization working for the betterment of Pakistani Americans. Our efforts are focused on developing future leaders of our country from within our community. We also work to address issues of concern of our community, ranging from immigration, civil liberties, religious freedom, and socio-economic development of Pakistani American community. In this blessed month of Ramadan, a month of spiritual well being, charity, and helping others, help us strengthen our United Voices. We are encouraged to be generous during this time of purification. If during this month of reflection and prayer you feel moved to offer charity, we humbly request that you consider supporting USPAK Foundation. Your support today can ensure that Pakistani Americans have a place at the table, as we shape the policies on immigration, the economy and civil rights. You can help build a more vibrant and inclusive democracy Can we count on you to help? Can you donate $500, $250 or $150 today? Click here to Donate Now. USPAK is a 501 c3 non-profit organization; your donation qualifies for tax deduction. It is through the help of our supporters like you that we are able carry on our vision promoting the ambitions and aspirations of Pakistani Americans. NewsPakistan celebrates Independence DayPakistan Independence day was celebrated at Embassy of Pakistan with a ceremony of hosting of Pakistani Flag. Various events are planned in major cities in USA in the next two weekends to celebrate Pakistan's 66th Independence day. Secretary Clinton message on Pakistan Independence day On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the government and people of Pakistan as you celebrate the anniversary of your independence this August 14. Since 1947, Pakistan has persevered in the face of immense challenges to build upon the democratic ideals of your country's founders. Today, we take time to honor your sacrifices and renew our support for a stable and secure Pakistan for generations to come. Muhammad Ali Jinnah dreamt of a vibrant, self-reliant Pakistan – a goal we all share. As Muslims around the world reflect upon the meaning of community and sacrifice during this holy month of Ramadan, the United States celebrates the hardworking Pakistanis who strive to fulfill Jinnah's vision of a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan. Obama praises Huma Abedin, Muslim American aide to Hillary Rodham ClintonPresident Obama on Friday voiced strong support for Huma Abedin, saying the top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has been "nothing less than extraordinary in representing our country and the democratic values that we hold dear." Obama praised Abedin during remarks at a White House iftar dinner to mark the end of the fasting during the Ramadan holiday observed by Muslims. Abedin has been subject to unproven accusations by some House Republicans, including Michelle Bachmann (Minn.), that she is part of a conspiracy by the Muslim Brotherhood to infiltrate the top reaches of the U.S. government. Read More Blogger sets out to change image of PakistanisA blogger for the last two years on topics ranging from international relations to social issues, Mehreen Kasana got sick of comments posted on her blog asking whether all Pakistanis were extremists. "When it comes to international media and reporting, a stereotype has been established of Pakistanis as people full of hate," said the 23-year-old student of FC College, where she studies media and political science. "People would post on my blog asking whether Pakistanis were really how they were shown in the media." So on August 8, Kasana set out to make a statement against this stereotyping. She advertised heavily on social media, inviting people to contribute to her project by taking a picture of themselves holding a piece of paper with the Pakistan flag on it and a message declaring: "I am a Pakistani and I refuse to be stereotyped." Read More Pakistani student proves research, wins $250k scholarship Shadab Rasool Abro, a student of matriculation and a resident of Khairpur, was given an award as well as a scholarship worth 250,000 dollars by the US State University of New York for presenting his research in the field of Bio Chemical. The student of Pak-Turk School, talking to Geo New said he had conducted a modern research in the field of Bio Chemical and also worked on a project with an amazing result. On an invitation from the US State University of New York, Shadab Rasool Abro visited the varsity and performed a successful experiment on the basis of his research. This won him an award and a scholarship worth 250,000 dollars in the US. http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=63379 Program providing protection for young immigrants launchedHundreds of thousands of people who entered the United States as children but without documentation can apply -- beginning Wednesday -- to remain in and work in the country without fear of deportation for at least two years. "I've found the form!" screamed Maria, a young Chilean at a Latino community center in New York, as she leaped from her seat. She was with a number of other undocumented immigrants meeting here to get legal advice in anticipation of the release of the form, which authorities surprisingly posted a day before they had said they would. The form, titled "Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals," was dated August 15, 2012 and bore the expiration date of February 28, 2013. Read More New Resources to Make the Financial Aid Process EasierVandna Wendy Bhagat, the Director of Awareness and Outreach for the Office of Federal Student Aid at the U.S. Department of Education, announced the launch of the new StudentAid.gov. StudentAid.gov is a new website that provides straightforward and easy-to-understand information about planning and paying for college. The site combines content and interactive tools from several ED websites. The new website is optimized for tablets and smartphones. Read more about the new financial aid tools here. More Muslim Women Athletes Compete in the 2012 Olympic Games Muslim women athletes who exhibited their power at the London Olympics. It also commends the Muslim women medalists who won 9 medals in total - 4 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze. More Muslim women competed in the London Games compared to previous years. Muslim women from Brunei, Qatar, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia competed for the first time in history. The participation of these women speaks volumes about the changing social dynamics within Muslim-majority countries. Some notable athletes are Aliya Mustafina (Age 17 - Russian Federation - Gymnastics) Won gold in the uneven bars, silver in the women's team final, and a bronze in both the floor exercise and the individual all-around final. Mustafina left the Games as the most decorated Russian gymnast. Asli Cakir Alptekin (Age 26 - Turkey - Track & Field)Captured gold in the women's 1500 meters Maiya Maneza (Age 26 - Kazakhstan - Weightlifting) Took gold in the women's 63kg competition. Zulfiya Chinshanlo (Age 19 - Kazakhstan - Weightlifting) Won gold in the women's 53kg competition Habiba Ghribi (Age 28 - Tunisia - Track & Field) Won silver in the women's 3000 meter steeplechase. Mavzuna Chorieva (Age 19 - Tajikistan - Boxing) Won bronze in women's boxing, a sport that debuted this summer. She was the only medalist from Tajikistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Salary | Closing Date | ||
| $105,211.00 - $155,500.00 (GS-0905-14/15) | 08/31/2012 | |||
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| $105,211.00 - $155,500.00 (GS-0905-14/15) | 09/04/2012 | |||
| $105,211.00 - $155,500.00 (GS-0905-14/15) | 09/04/2012 | |||
| n/a (volunteer) |
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Spring Internships at White House
USPAK encourages young leaders to apply for a White House Internship. This is once in a lifetime opportunity to strengthen your resume. The application for the Spring 2013 program is now open.
White House Interns dedicate their time, talents, energy, and service to better the White House, the community, and the nation. They become a part of the White House team, and the assignments given to an intern on any given day could include conducting research, managing incoming inquiries, attending meetings, writing memos, and staffing events. They also participate in a weekly speaker series with senior staff members and small group meetings exploring different policy aspects of the Executive Office of the President through speakers, discussion, off-site field trips, and service projects.
Please visit www.whitehouse.gov/internships for more information about the program, the application process, a timeline with deadlines, and the departments that participate in the program. A complete application includes: short answers, two essay questions, a one-page resume, and two letters of recommendation. The deadline to apply for the spring program is September 23.
State Department Openings
State Department is looking for following Foreign Service Information Management Technical Specialist positions.
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Information Management Technical Specialist (RADIO): Deadline to submit completed applications is September 12, 2012.
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Information Management Technical Specialist (TELEPHONE): Deadline to submit completed applications is September 12, 2012.
All potential applicants are strongly urged to read the entire Vacancy Announcement to ensure that they meet all of the requirements for this position before applying.
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens and at least 20 years old to apply. For more details visit careers.state.gov website.
Additional Listings
For additional Job and Internship listings, visit DC Linktank job portal at http://www.jobwonk.com/a/jbb/find-jobs
Viewpoint
Pakistan's Unfinished Challenges - Shuja Nawaz
As it completes its 65th year as an independent state, Pakistan faces a host of challenges that only it can resolve, if its people and leaders have the will to do so.
It is no longer the split country that came into being in August 1947. Yet it occupies a strategic location that appears to be determining its destiny. It has been drawn into external conflicts on its western border at least twice, first in the 1980s and then in 2001. And it has fought at least three major wars with India. Although that relationship appears to be thawing, it remains vulnerable to the actions of non-state actors residing in Pakistan whom the state is unable or unwilling to control. Read More
Who gets to be a Muslim in Pakistan? – Murtaza Haider
If Muhammad Ali Jinnah were alive today only half of Pakistan would consider him a Muslim. The ethnic, sectarian, and tribal fault lines have reached such depths that the nation once founded to be the homeland of Muslims is now bickering over who gets to be called a Muslim.
The latest poll by the US-based Pew Research Center has exposed the depth of sectarian fault lines where only one in every two Sunni Muslims in Pakistan accepts Shias as Muslims. While many believed that such extreme sectarian views were held only by the fanatics lying at the margin, the Pew Center's findings reveal that such intolerant and extremist views are in fact mainstream in Pakistan. Even Jinnah, a Shia Muslim and the founder of Pakistan, today would not have escaped the sectarian extremism in Pakistan. Read More
Resources
Upcoming Seminars at Think Tanks
To get information about future seminars and events relating to US-Pakistan relations, please visit the following websites
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Tariq Khattak.
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