SACRAMENTO, Calif.: A growing Pakistani-American presence and stronger Pakistan-U.S. ties took center stage in California on Wednesday, as state lawmakers approved resolutions recognizing the community’s contributions and backing greater cooperation between California and Pakistan.
The California State Senate unanimously passed a resolution presented by state Sen. Melissa Hurtado that recognized the role of Pakistani-Americans in the state’s economy, culture and social fabric.
It also commended their achievements across various fields and encouraged Californians to celebrate the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and the United States.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, thanked Hurtado for her leadership and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties and building on the positive momentum in bilateral relations.
The Council of Pakistan, led by Dr. Imran Sharief, also played an important role in efforts supporting the passage of the Senate resolution, according to the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington.
The California State Assembly separately adopted a resolution promoting relations between Pakistan and California. The measure recognized the contributions of Pakistani-American businesses and investors to economic cooperation between the two sides.
The Assembly also acknowledged Sheikh’s efforts to strengthen Pakistan-U.S. relations, with Assemblymember Matt Haney making the remarks.
The resolutions were adopted during Sheikh’s official visit to California, where he held meetings with lawmakers on ways to expand economic and political engagement.
During a meeting with state Sen. Eloise Gomez, Sheikh discussed opportunities to increase trade, investment and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. Gomez commended Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability, while Sheikh invited her to visit Pakistan.
Sheikh also hosted a working lunch with Haney and Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva to discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation. He invited both lawmakers to visit Pakistan to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration across various sectors.
The developments reflect efforts to build stronger links between Pakistan and California through economic partnerships, political engagement and ties with the Pakistani-American community.
