NEWYORK: New York City Mayor Eric Adams won the hearts of Pakistani Americans by hosting the first-ever Pakistan Heritage Day celebration at his official residence, Gracie Mansion.
National songs were sung and several community figures were honored with certificates of appreciation.
For the first time in history, Pakistan’s Cultural Heritage Day was observed to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day, at the Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in which a large number of the community participated.
Addressing the participants, Mayor Eric Adams said that he did not make political promises to the Pakistani community but acted upon what he promised to them.
Mayor Eric Adams praised the Pakistani-American community’s outstanding contributions to New York City’s social, cultural, and economic life. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the city’s engagement with all global communities, including the vibrant Pakistani diaspora.
The event was hosted by the first Muslim Liaison Officer, Atiya Shahnaz. She said that the importance given to the Pakistani community by the current Mayor Eric Adams is unprecedented in the past.
The Pakistani community was dressed in green and white at the cultural heritage event. A young Paksitani American singer sang national songs.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar, Consul General in New York Aamer Ahmed Atozai and others also attended the ceremony.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad in his address commended the role of Pakistani community in strengthening Pakistan-U.S relations. He reiterated that Pakistan is fully capable of defending its sovereignty while continuing to work for peace, progress, and mutual cooperation with the international community.
The Consul General of Pakistan in New York, Aamer Ahmed Atozai in his remarks on the occasion expressed appreciation to Mayor Eric Adams for recognizing the contributions of the Pakistani-American community and for celebrating Pakistan Heritage Day.
He underscored that Pakistan’s heritage is not only rooted in its independence in 1947 but also in its ancient civilizations, pluralistic traditions, and cultural richness that continue to inspire the world.
The speakers said that today is no less than a gift for the Pakistani community.
The first Pakistani-American officer posted in the New York Police Inspector Adeel Rana, Deputy Inspector Misbah Noor, Deputy Inspector Jahangir Ashraf and others also participated in the celebration of cultural heritage.
Children represented the culture of all the provinces of Pakistan and presented a tableau on folk songs.
Commissioner Fred Kreizman and Commissioner Asim-ur-Rehman of the Community Affairs Unit in New York City also expressed their views.
Addressing the participants, they said that politicians make promises, but Eric Adams kept his words buy acting on it.
The ceremony was attended by Pakistani-origin officers in the New York city government, as well as political, social and business figures from the community. The speakers described the efforts and initiatives of Mayor Eric Adams as historic.
Later, social leader Naseem Gilgiti presented Eric Adams with the cultural cap of Gilgit-Baltistan. On this occasion, Pakistani community business and social figures Saif Nagra, Abbas Raza Rizvi, Dr. Abdul Wahid, and Amina Khawaja of APNA Adult Day Care were awarded certificates of appreciation for community services.
A moment of silence was also observed in the ceremony to express solidarity with the victims and those who died in the recent floods in Pakistan.
