courtesy: PakistanLink

AOPP Sponsors Media Conference at
 

Columbia University

New York: The Media Awareness Conference hosted by the Association of Pakistani Professionals at Columbia University, New York stressed the importance of outreaching and communicating with the mainstream media and local leaders for projecting the true image of Pakistan.
 

(L to R): Consul General M. Hafeez, Professor Saeed Shafqat and S. Asif Alam, President AOPP

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Consul General in New York, Mr. Mohammad Hafeez, congratulated the AOPP on arranging such an event and urged the participants to work collectively for a better image of Pakistan. He appreciated AOPP’s role and stressed the importance of unity among various Pakistani groups in the United States.
 

President and Founder of AOPP, Syed Asif Alam talking about his organization told the participant about rising tide of negative stereotyping in the western media against Pakistan. He said, “AOPP was conceived to think and execute strategies for engaging the media so that a more informed and educated picture of Pakistan can emerge in the western world.” He urged upon the participants to put the onus on themselves and work for improving the image of Pakistan by continuously monitoring the editorials in the western media and promptly writing in protest where Pakistan is blamed incorrectly.
 

Alam talked in detail about the role of academia, students, professionals, businessman and journalisst and asked everyone to unite and work as a family. Senior Vice President of AOPP, Rizwan Raheel, dilated on the comprehensive INS website by AOPP at
 

http://aopp.org. . Mr. Abu Bakar and Mr. Mushtaq Khalil shed light on various projects AOPP has undertaken for projecting Pakistan.
 

Other distinguish speakers included Professor Saeed Shafqat of South Asian Institute of Columbia University, Mr. Tariq Khan representing the professionals, Fletcher Scholar Mr. Hassan Abbas who is currently at Harvard University, Ms. Javeria Chaudhry and Mr. Munir Masooqullah representing the business community.
 

The conference included interactive sessions of brainstorming in which participants talked at length about ideas and solutions of outreaching and the role of expatriate community for a better Pakistan.
 

Earlier, the proceedings started with a welcoming speech by OPS president of Columbia University, Ms. Ayesha Sattar.