‘Oh ye Sindhis, rise to the challenges of the 21st century’

Through your voices, public awareness can be raised about the scourge of bonded labour in Sindh to save the lives and ensure a better future for those who live at the edge of the Sindhi economy, said US Consul General in Karachi William Martin on Saturday.
While delivering opening remarks at the second Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) Sindh convention held at a hotel under the theme of “21st Century Sindh; Challenges and Choices”, Martin called upon the participants to condemn the practice of bonded labour in Sindh and urged the protection and advancement of women’s rights.
“When women lift themselves, their families, their communities and their countries also benefit,” he said. “Girls must be able to learn, study and participate without fear.”
Talking about his experience in Sindh and with Sindhi people, Martin went on to add: “The people of Sindh have made me feel very welcomed. Although I often read about the low opinion that Pakistanis have about the US, I can honestly say that I have never met one Sindhi who was not warm, welcoming and generous.”
“Time and time again, from Sukkur to Hyderabad to Thatta, and everywhere in between, I have been received as a member of the family. I cherish my friendships with the people of Sindh and will always carry a piece of Sindh in my heart,” said the US diplomat.
“Trade and commercial ties between Pakistan and the US are very important,” he asserted.
Recounting his recent visit to the new Islamic centre and mosque in Southern California, Martin spoke about the religious freedom in the US and urged Pakistani-Americans in the audience to tell their Pakistani friends of their experiences as Muslims in the US.
“There is just too much misunderstanding of the US here in Pakistan, as there is too much misunderstanding of Pakistan in the US,” he said. “We can begin to change those misperceptions. So please speak up. Your voices resonate here in Sindh.”
Speaking on the occasion, SANA President Dr Valeed Shaikh – currently residing in US state of Minnesota – invited the ambassador to be the convention’s chief guest.
SANA – a non-profit organisation of the Sindhis living in North America – has held annual conventions in the US for almost three decades, aiming to unite Sindhis in North America and everywhere, to defend the historic national rights of Sindhi people, to foster friendship and understanding between Sindhis and other nationalities. The forum also educates people about Sindhi civilisation, philosophy, values, language, literature, history and heritage to harness and bring under one umbrella of SANA, the potential energy, resources, and knowledge of Sindhis living in the US.
Others who also spoke on the occasion included Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, Hameed Haroon, Jahangir Siddiqui, Jalal Mahmood Shah, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Naseer Memon, Abrar Qazi, Jami Chandio, Qaisar Bengali, Javed Leghari, Fazlullah Qureshi and Asif Baladi.
At the SANA convention, Life Achievement Awards were awarded to Sindhi nationals of different fields who did great works in their life.
Those who were given the awards included the great scholar and an enlightened educationist, Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo, who is one of the most eminent personalities of contemporary Sindhi society and considered a living legend. Renowned Sufi singer Abida Parveen, famous Marxist and social activist Sobho Gianchandani, well-known Sindhi Language researcher Atta Muhammad Bhanbhro, famous Sindhi bureaucrat AK Lodhi, Sindhi fiction writer, columnist and television anchor Amar Jaleel, renowned Sindhi nationalist and former chief of Awami Tehreek Rasool Bux Palijo and famous drama writer Noorul Huda Shah were also bestowed with life achievement awards.