By Rimsha Ali Shah.

Fourteen alumni from the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) participated in a roundtable discussion with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons yesterday in Islamabad.  President of the PUAN Islamabad Chapter, Haseeb Kiyani opened the dialogue with an overview of the 12 chapters of PUAN nationwide and the concentrated efforts of the alumni for capacity development and community service projects across Pakistan.

“I learned about inclusive education technologies in the U.S. and I have been working on replicating similar inclusive education technologies in Pakistan so that our schools can cater to the special needs of the disabled,”

said Ali Shabbar, an alumnus of the Disabilities Exchange Program.  Shabbar recently completed his small grant project through which he successfully trained teachers and installed disability-friendly technology labs.   Shabbar’s efforts have allowed 15 persons with disabilities to enroll in these schools. 

Shah Rukh, spoke about how her exchange program “Goldman Sachs’ Project Artemis: 10,000 Women” inspired her to encourage and motivate women in Pakistan to rise above their inhibitions.  By using the binding power of sports, she engaged girls and local communities in multiple recreational activities and a cricket camp.

Mentor-Mentee pair Umer Adnan, Fulbright scholar, and Usman Liaquat, Global UGRAD alumnus, who met through the PUAN Mentorship Program, spoke about the professional growth they both gained through the program.   Sidra Saeed, International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) alumna, shared her experience of speaking at TedxSecunderabad in Hyderabad, India and the power of people-to-people ties for regional cooperation.

Fitzsimmons, applauding the collective desire of the group to work for policy change and community development, said,

“Your work is a reminder of the power of PUAN to bridge gaps and promote peaceful coexistence.”

To check out pictures from the event, click here