Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley inaugurated the Pakistan Consulate in Chicago on Saturday. Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Jehangir Karamat was present, on the occasion. Welcoming the opening ceremony of the Pakistan Consulate, the Chicago Mayor said, Chicago is a city built by immigrants and continues to welcome immigrants as it believes that diversity is its strength, and added, "Pakistani community is an important element of this diversity particularly to Chicago."
Praising the Pakistani community, he said that they were known for their "family values and strong ties to their heritage."
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jehangir Karamat referred to the Pakistan-US relations, and said that these ties were "multifaceted and on a long-term sustainable track. The relationship not only focussed on bilateral issues such as economic defence collaboration, but encompassed consultation and co-operation on important regional and international issues."
He said Pakistani community in the United States played an important role in this relationship.
Speaking about the domestic situation in Pakistan, the Ambassador informed the audience about the progress made by the Government of Pakistan in the political and social sectors, with emphasis on women empowerment, as well as efforts made towards translation of President Musharraf's vision of 'Enlightened Moderation' into reality and it's appeal within Pakistan and in other Muslim countries.
Regarding the economy, he said that the success of the Government's economic policies was widely acknowledged and reflected in the recent IMF report.
Ambassador Karamat thanked Mayor Daley for inaugurating the Consulate and praised the progress made in the City under the Mayor's leadership. He hoped that Chicagoians of Pakistani origin had played and would continue to play their role in the development of Chicago along with other communities of the City.
Denise D. Duncan, the Regional Director of the US Department of State in Chicago, in his remarks, congratulated the Government of Pakistan on its decision to open a Consulate in Chicago. Thus adding to the growing Consular corps in the important City, and meeting the consular needs of the Pakistani community in the region.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Borys M. Bazlevskyi, Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago, represented the City's diplomatic fraternity, besides media representatives and a large number of Pakistanis were also present in the ceremony, besides Deputy Chief of the Mission of the Pakistan embassy, Mohammad Sadiq.
The Chicago Consulate is headed by Aitzaz Ahmed. It offers consular services to Pakistanis living in the region, in particular to the residents of Illinois, Winconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Indiana.
Meanwhile, according to official sources, the Pakistan Consulate in Houston is scheduled to be inaugurated on February 12.
Co-Chairman of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee along with ambassador Jehangir Karamat will inaugurate the Houston Consulate.
The Houston Consultate is led by G.R. Baloch, and it will meet the consular services to Pakistanis living in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana and Arkansas.
The other consulates in the United States are: Los Angeles and New York; while there is an honorary consulate at Boston.
The consular office at Pakistan embassy Washington DC offers consular facilities for Washington DC, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The Los Angeles Consulate General led by Noor Mohammad Jadmani covers the states of California, Arozina, Colorado, nevada, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska, Washington and Oregon.
The New York Consulate General headed by Haroon Shaukat caters to the requirements of the states of New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Connecticut, South Dakota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Vermont, Ohio and Delaware.
"With the opening up of Chicago; to be followed by inauguration of Houston Consulate, the longstanding demand of the community will be met, while Pakistani-Americans will have easy access to the consular facilities around the United States," the sources added.
Inauguration of the Chicago Consulate by Mayor Daley, the sources stated "is reflective of the immense goodwill enjoyed by the Pakistani American community."