It is my pleasure to extend greetings and to welcome each of you to the 2001 Pakistan Association annual Spring dinner. I am proud and honored to offer you my best wishes for a fun, exciting and memorable event.

The Pakistan Association is an exceptional community service organization whose strong social foundation has allowed you to grow and thrive in service to your members and our communities. You do an outstanding job of promoting and preserving the rich history and integrity of the Pakistan communities in our State. Your efforts to promote diversity help bridge the gap between cultures and communities, and bring them together in fellowship and your many programs and services are truly making a positive and lasting difference in the lives of many people. This annual dinner is a wonderful time to celebrate your cultural and ethnic heritage, and to recognize and acknowledge the many important and historic contributions that Pakistani citizens have made to societies around the world.

It is also my pleasure to recognize and acknowledge the Honorable Saghir Tahir for your historic accomplishment of being the first Pakistan American to be elected to a public office in New Jersey. You stand as a role model and symbol of encouragement to everyone to never stop short of reaching our goals. Your leadership and vision are a tremendous asset to the continued growth and achievement of the Pakistan community.

With deepest gratitude, I thank you for your dedication and commitment to quality and excellence in service to our communities. I look forward to continuing our work together, and offer you my best wishes for continued growth and success in all you do.