The Pakistan U.S. Alumni Network is deeply saddened at the loss of its member, Sabika Sheikh. Sabika was among the ten killed in the school shooting which occurred in Santa Fe, Texas on Friday.

The President of the United States has ordered the American flag to be lowered to half-mast to honour the memory of the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting.

American Ambassador to Pakistan, David Hale, expressed regret at Sabika’s death and said that “this morning, I called the family of Sabika Sheikh and offered my deepest condolences. As an exchange student, Sabika was a youth ambassador, a bridge between our peoples and cultures. All of us at the U.S. Mission in Pakistan are devastated by and mourn her loss. We will honour her memory.”

Ms Shiekh, the resident of Karachi, was visiting the U.S. under the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, a State Department-funded that provides scholarships to students to attend high school in the US for a full academic year.

Megan Lysaght, manager of the YES program, sent a letter to students in the program confirming that Sabika Sheikh was killed in the shooting. “Please know that the YES program is devastated by this loss and we will remember Sabika and her families in our thoughts and prayers,” Lysaght wrote.

Our thoughts & prayers are with Sabika’s family and friends.