NEWYORK: New York’s state assembly deputy speaker Phil Ramos congratulated American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee APPAC Foundation, PEEF on signing MoU on Nursing employment initiative.
Following is the statement from New York state assembly deputy speaker Phil Ramos on the signing of the memorandum of understanding between American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee and the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund.
“I congratulate the APPAC Foundation and the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund on the historic signing of this Memorandum of Understanding. I am proud to celebrate this important milestone and the progress it represents.
We are grateful to visionary leaders such as Dr. Ijaz Ahmad and the members of APPAC, who—out of deep love and commitment to both their country of origin, Pakistan, and the country that has embraced them, the United States—have helped build a bridge between our nations. Today marks the first meaningful crossing of that bridge.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the APPAC Foundation, the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, the Government of Pakistan, and everyone whose hard work helped bring us to this moment. I especially thank Dr. Ijaz Ahmad, whose leadership, commitment, and persistence have been essential to advancing this initiative. Dr. Ahmad and APPAC have helped establish the critical relationships with Pakistani government officials, educational institutions, healthcare leaders, and other partners necessary to move this vision forward.
I also recognize the many government representatives, educators, nursing professionals, community leaders, advocates, and volunteers who worked behind the scenes. This agreement became possible because people in New York and Pakistan believed in a shared vision and were willing to invest the time and effort required to make it a reality.
I initiated this effort to establish a lawful and responsible pathway for qualified Pakistani nurses to obtain employment-based visas and serve in New York State. New York continues to face a severe shortage of nurses, while Pakistan has talented, educated, and dedicated nursing professionals seeking opportunities to advance their careers.
Connecting these needs creates a partnership in which everyone benefits.
After two delegation trips to Pakistan and countless hours of meetings, planning, negotiations, and relationship building, we are beginning to see the fruits of our labor.
Our goal has always been greater than simply recruiting nurses. We are working to coordinate the academic standards, credentials, clinical preparation, and curricula of Pakistani nursing institutions with the licensing and professional requirements of New York State. This coordination is essential to ensuring that participating nurses are properly prepared, treated fairly, and positioned to succeed in New York’s healthcare system.
This partnership must also protect the integrity of the process. It must uphold high professional standards, provide transparency, prevent exploitation, and ensure that every participating nurse is respected as a skilled healthcare professional—not viewed merely as a number needed to fill a vacancy.
This initiative builds upon another historic achievement: the passage of the New York–Punjab sister-state resolution, which I was proud to sponsor in the New York State Assembly. That resolution opened the door to direct cooperation between New York and Pakistan in education, healthcare, economic development, and other areas of mutual interest.
The signing of this MOU demonstrates that this relationship is now producing concrete results.
By helping qualified Pakistani nurses pursue employment opportunities in New York, we can strengthen hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities that urgently need trained professionals. At the same time, these nurses will build careers, support their families, and contribute to Pakistan’s economy through the knowledge, resources, and financial support they send home.
This is not charity. It is a serious partnership founded on mutual respect, shared needs, and shared opportunity. The signing of this MOU, however, is not the finish line. An agreement is meaningful only when it leads to action.
The true measure of our success will be the creation of a clear and responsible process—from education and credential evaluation to licensing preparation, immigration compliance, employment placement, and support for nurses as they begin their lives and careers in New York.
I remain committed to working with APPAC, Dr. Ijaz Ahmad, the Government of Pakistan, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and New York State officials to move this initiative from agreement to implementation.
This is only the beginning of the fruits of our labor. What began as an idea has developed into an international partnership with the potential to bring hundreds of qualified Pakistani nurses to New York, strengthen our healthcare system, and create lasting economic and educational opportunities for Pakistan.
This achievement demonstrates a simple but powerful truth: when governments, educators, healthcare leaders, and communities work together in good faith, we do not have to choose between helping New York and helping Pakistan. We can accomplish both. We all win when we work together.
Congratulations to the APPAC Foundation, the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, Dr. Ijaz Ahmad, and every person who contributed to this historic achievement. May this MOU serve as the foundation for a strong, transparent, and lasting bridge between New York and Pakistan—a bridge built through education, strengthened through healthcare, and sustained by opportunity.”
