Periodic Update from the PAWA President
8 April 2008

Dear Community Members, ASOAK.

1. Thanks for so many of you who have registered through our website after the Pakistan Day Function. We are really delighted that we have so many countrymen in Perth who are willing to gather for a cause. Kindly propagate through your word-of-mouth to others as well to do the same or pass on their email contact directly to us.

2. Just to keep you up-to-date. Yesterday was the last date to apply for Women 2008 grant offered by the Government of Western Australia. We have prepared two projects for the Women Chapter/Wing of PAWA:

a. Healthy Lifestyle.
b. Integrating with the communities

Each of these carry $3000/=. I will keep my fingers crossed and wish both are approved. However, even if only one is approved, it will start a new chapter for the welfare of ladies in our community. The projects aim at organising seminars, workshops, meetings and focus groups to cater for the above two areas. I am sure it will create a better understanding amongst women and young girls of our community and from here on they can move forward and participate in even bigger and better projects. I am confident that we all are capable to delivering our best, we just need a runway from where we can take-off and then fly happily in the skies.

3. Mr CP Singh, a renown psychologist, met us during the pakistan day function. He has offered to provide free psychology consultancy to any of our community member. Please contact him on: charan.singh@miraquin.com.au. Tel:93151852.

4. A centrelink government officer who visited our food stall during the harmony week has kindly consented to provide voluntary service to all our community members in case they require any personalised and confidential help, interpreter services, discuss issues on payments, discuss entitlements while overseas etc . Her name is: May Rebello. Tel: 94648164, 0411670812 and email: may.mh.rebello@centrelink.gov.au.

5. Mr Mohammad Ali Mir of FABCAR , Shepperton Road, was very much impressed by the last function he attended and has been kind to help sponsor our sporting activities and other events.

6. We also have a tentative plan to organise a community picnic, children program and possibly a mushaira in the near future and will keep you informed of the developments.

7. We have received names of quite a few volunteers for the various chapters/wings we intend to start, but still need more to form a working group for each wing. Once we get the chapters/wings organised it will be the responsibility of the Coordinator of the wing to manage the affairs and PAWA can concentrate on more important policy and pressing issues. There has been tremendous support from the community on this initiative but we need to be cautious and careful in our planning and ensure right people lead the chapter. So if we start one or two chapters now and include others later on it would be viable strategy. The inclusion of women chapter has already helped us in justifying our case for the women grant as mentioned above and so too will the other chapters. We have enough volunteers for the women wing, but at this stage intend to start one another wing as a pilot case. Anyone having any suggestion as to which one should it be???? We think: Either Arts & Culture or Youth & Sports (including students). Based on the outcome of this pilot chapter, we can then decide on how to strategize the other wings. This may be a time consuming exercise but is worth the effort and will give a new structure to PAWA.

8. Thanks again for your storm of emails praising the pak day function and also for your suggestions which we will surely try to address in our forthcoming events. If you have any other suggestion/feedback, do keep the communication channel open so that we can improve.

Thanks for your forbearance.

Regards
ARIF SIKANDER
for Executive Committee

High Commission's Message for the Pakistani Community on the Occasion of Independence Day
14 August 2007

I am delighted to greet my Pakistani brothers and sisters living in Western Australia on the auspicious occasion of the Independence Day of Pakistan... click here to read full text.

Demise of Mr Muhammad Safdar

The Association informs with deep regrets that our renown member of the community Mr Muhammad Safdar expired due to sudden heart attack on the evening of Monday 23 July 2007. The Namaz-e-Janaza was performed on 25 July 2007 at Mirrabooka Mosque followed by the burial at Karrakatta graveyard. The Khatm-e-Quran was placed on Saturday 28 July 2007 at Rivervale Mosque. It was attended by many of his friends, families and citizens to pray and pay their last respects.

Mr Safdar was a noble friend and a noble member of his family. He was a great poet and a thinker. He has written and compiled a few books on literature and Islam. His last publication ' ISLAM - in a multicultural environment' was recently compiled and about to be inaugurated. The Association promises the completion of this unfinished noble task as fulfilling of his 'last wish'. We would miss him for a long time to come ahead.

The Executive Committee on behalf of all the members pass on their sincere condolences to the bereaved family and prays God Almighty to bless the soul of Late Muhammad Safdar in peace. Amin !

Mr Mohammad Shahzad

The members are also informed that the patient from Pakistan, Mr Mohammad Shahzad, has also undergone surgery on Tuesday, 15 May 2007 towards the final stage of his treatment at Hollywood Hospital Nedlands (WA). Due to long stretched treatment over a year, the patient is suffering from financial hardships. The members on the Executive Committee are doing their best within their means by offering personal services to the needy patient and work out negotiations with his treating surgeons and the Private Hospital Administration to save him further medical costs. But still, we would like to appeal to our well off community to please help them in any way they like. Thank you and God bless you all!

A message from your President on the eve of Eid Qurban 2007

Dear Ladies & gentlemen

It gives us an immense pleasure to see that our community is growing and people are showing interest to join the Association. We are getting a lot of calls from the new-comers, students and various professionals within Australia and overseas. It is one of the important functions of our Association to cater for various services to our existing members and endeavour to increase the new membership and serve in most effective way.

The other important function is to educate and provide more facilities for our children which is our next coming generation. Our children are the best treasure. I personally wish that our children must come forward and I request the parents to encourage and provide facilities to bring their children forward.

Please support your own Association in any way you can. Even a small gesture of smiley face and a word of thanks can make a huge difference. Please come forward and bring your positive suggestions in a positive way. This Association belongs to all of us and we all do carry a joint responsibility to see that it is functioning smoothly.

Please enjoy your Eid celebrations with a spirit of giving and forgiving. A very well wishes from myself and my family on this happy festive of Eid. We also wish you a happy, bright and prosperous new year.

God bless you all
A. Jamil

Annual General Meeting 2006
Pakistan Association of Western Australia (Inc.)
19 August 2006

The Executive Committee is pleased to inform all the members that an official notice of holding the AGM for the year 2006, shall be communicated in the next week. The notice would also contain the procedure for the election of the new Executive Committee for the 2006-2007. Please note that according to Article 11A (1) of PAWA constitution, the AGM must be held within four months after the end of each financial year.

25th Marriage Anniversary
7 August 2006

Mr Khalid Malick and his beloved wife, Shaheen Malick, our senior most members, celebrated their 25 Marriage Anniversary on Monday, the 7th August 2006. The ceremony cake was cut by the couple after a delicious dinner at the famous D' Tandoor Restaurant in Leederville. The feast was attended over 60 close family and friends including their promising son Anique and daughter Guria. Khalid and Shaheen were both looking very happy and their love for each other was sparklingly in the air. We managed to get a few happy moments snapped into some beautiful pictures to share with friends. The Association wishes them happiness, content and blessings in their marriage for ever.

First Birthday
5 August 2006

Mr Parvez Aslam and his lovely family celebrated First Birthday of their son on Saturday 5 August 2006 in the midst of their close family and friends. The guests were served with hot mouth watering dishes followed by a cake cutting ceremony. The whole atmosphere was lovely and exciting. The Association wishes a happy long life to their son and heart full blessings to the entire family. We took some photos to share the golden moments with our friends on the net.

Birth
24 July 2006

Mr and Mrs Imran Nazia Qaiser are the proud parents of a new born first lovely daughter named 'Maryam' in their family. The Executive Committee on behalf of the Patron and all the members of the Association welcome the new member in our community with their best wishes and congratulations to the joyful parents.

Demise
29 June 2006

A person by the name of Umar Farooque originally from Pakistan has been found dead at 7 pm on Monday, 26 June 2006 at Royal Perth Hospital. It came to light that he was visiting from Sydney on an official meeting at QV1 building where he collapsed after the meeting at 6.30 pm. He was immediately taken to the hospital but unfortunately could not survive. Presently, his body is at rest with the State Coroner's Office at Perth and can not be released until his next of kin is found. Apparently, it seems that he does not have any relations in Australia.

Any person who has a bit more information about the deceased 'Umar Farooque' may contact this Association by email or phone. It might help to track down the next of kin or his relatives to complete further formalities of release and burial as per Muslim rites. May God bless the soul of the deceased. Amin!

Health Concerns for Mrs Nighat Luxa
27 June 2006

Our outstanding member Mr. Aslam Luxa's wife Mrs Nighat Luxa had serious concerns about health. She had also been admitted to Royal Perth Hospital for a number of times for medical check ups. We all pray to God Almighty to bless her with complete health and keep her happy in the midst of her family and friends.

Demise
25 June 2006

Our prominent member Mr Imran Muslim, lost his dearly mother at Karachi Pakistan a few weeks ago. The Patron and the members of Pakistan Association express their deep condolences to Mr. & Mrs. Imran Muslim and their extended family in Pakistan in their grief. May God bless the soul of the deceased in heavens. Amin!

A Mercy Appeal
24 June 2006

Mr Mohammad Shehzad has travelled from Pakistan to Perth about four weeks ago to carry out his surgery at the Hollywood Hospital. Unfortunately, the operation was not successful and he has now been booked for another major operation on 11 July 2006. The patient is under great psychological as well as financial burden due to unforseen circumstances and uncertainity of his future operation.

The Executive Committee members have afforded necessary help on personal basis but feel that there is a need for further help from the broader community. We therefore appeal to all the members to kindly donate whatever they can to lessen the burdon of our 26 years old Pakistani brother and bring his confidence back to bear the pain of his forthcoming operation.

We have also approached the hospital and the State Welfare Departments in order to seek urgent help. Please remember Mohammad Shehzad in your prayers. May God bless him the health and a happy journey back to Pakistan.

Our humble thanks for your consideration and an offer of help.
All queries: A. Jamil on 9221 0212   or   0413 483 819

Demise

The Patron and the members of Association regret the sudden demise of proud father of our honorable member Shakeel Butt, in Pakistan. We offer our sincere condolences to Shakeel Butt and his grieved family. Please remember to bless the deceased soul in your prayers. May God grant them the power and patience to bear this great loss. Amin!

Demise

The Association announces with regret the sudden demise of younger brother of our Pakistani community member Mr Iqbal Khan. We offer our deepest condolences to the grieved family and pray to God Almighty to bless his soul in peace.

Condemnation

The Association joins hands with the Muslim world to codemn whole heartedly the defamation of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace-be-upon-him) caused by the publication of inappropriate cartoons and objectionable material by the European media.