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Pakistani American Doctors Contribute To U.S. Efforts To Develop Health Sector In Pakistan: Crocker
12/21/2006
(Pakistani Americans have come home to discuss medical advances and life in America)
Islamabad – U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Crocker has acknowledged the services rendered by the Pakistani American doctors in the United States and their contributions towards health sector in Pakistan.
He was speaking at the 27th Annual Winter Conference 2006 of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) at the Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) on Thursday. The Chief Guest, Chaudhry Pervez Ellahi, Chief Minister of Punjab also addressed the conference.
"Pakistani American doctors play an important role in the U.S. medical profession and contribute to U.S. efforts to develop the health sector in Pakistan," Ambassador Crocker remarked.
Representing a group of 10,500 physicians of Pakistani descent in the United States, the APPNA doctors are attending this healthcare conference in Rawalpindi and would also take part in a "Citizen Dialogue," developed by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes, narrating their experiences of what it is like to live in the United States.
In their pre-visit remarks, several doctors expressed the hope to build a bridge between Pakistani and the American people. They said that they explain things about Pakistan and about Islam to Americans often. But they viewed this as a positive role and take it as a serious responsibility.
Several Pakistani-American doctors including Dr. Parvez Asmat, Dr. Farzad Najam and Dr. Abdul Rashid Piracha worked in Pakistan after the October 2005 earthquake, giving acute care to victims near Muzaffarabad. The doctors are also joined by Ray Mahmood and his wife Shaista, who together have raised money to help build schools and help children in Pakistan and other countries. President APPNA Dr. Abdul Rashid Piracha also spoke on the occasion.