NEWYORK: Mayor Eric Adams held an important roundtable meeting with the Pakistani community at New York’s city hall in which the issues relating to services and partnerships of the Muslim community were discussed.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Asim-ur-Rehman and Muslim Women Liaison Atiya Shahnaz, along with community officials and officers.
The purpose of the meeting was to hear directly about the issues facing the Muslim and Pakistani communities, receive their suggestions, and discuss in detail the administration’s actions.
Mayor Adams said in his address that as mayor, he is not limited to administrative matters but also holds a symbolic position, which values the representation and inclusion of different communities.
He said that he was in constant contact with the public during his election campaign and he himself asked the community what they wanted.
The mayor said, “You asked me to provide halal food in schools, provide facilities for Friday prayers, and allow prayers in city offices – we worked on all these points because these were your priorities.”
Earlier, Atiya Shahnaz, while briefing the steps taken by Mayor Adams for the Muslim community, said that close ties were established with the community during Ramadan, Eid, and other occasions, while relations were also strengthened with Islamic centers and schools.
She said that under Mayor Adams’ leadership, religious harmony was promoted and the Muslim community gained a dignified place in the city.
Commissioner Asim-ur-Rahman appreciated the role of the Pakistani community in the economic, social and urban development of New York and said that the community has always played a positive role in the betterment of the city.
Mayor Adams directed the senior officers present in the meeting to listen to the problems of the community and take immediate steps. When the issue regarding issuance of advertisements for ethnic media was discussed, the mayor ordered the relevant officers to take immediate action and said that work on it would be started soon.
He also clarified that immediate and specific steps are being taken to control hate crimes in the city.
The mayor said that 10 percent of the city’s population is Jewish, but they were becoming target of 51 percent of hate crimes. He said that Mayor office has established a special officer to combat Antisemitism. He said that if similar abuses are seen against any other community, similar steps will be taken.
Muslim police officers, community leaders, and ordinary citizens also participated in this roundtable and presented their views and demands. Mayor Adams thanked everyone and said that his administration will continue to work with Muslim and other minority communities in a spirit of respect and partnership.
