Building Bridges. Opening Minds. Empowering Communities.
March 2021
2021 APF Pakistan Fellowships Announced
The APF Pakistan Fellows Program is offering several virtual fellowships during Summer 2021 with the following host organizations:

  • Sehat Kahani
  • Atlantic Council South Asia Center
  • i-Care Foundation
  • invest2innovate
  • The Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy
  • i2i ventures

Students and young professionals interested in globally-focused careers and learning about Pakistan should apply by April 19.
Stop Hate Towards Asian American Communities
APF President Shamila N. Chaudhary reflected on the murders of 8 Asian American women in Georgia on March 16 and provided resources on being an ally to communities facing discrimination.
APF Events Recap
Feminism in the
South Asian Community

Ambassador Shirin Tahir Kheli, author Sumbul Ali-Karamali, Family Lawyer Maha Kamal, Oncologist Dr. Uzma Iqbal, Millennial Brown founder Misaal Irfan, and APF's Shamila N. Chaudhary discussed their personal definitions of feminism and views of it across communities.

Urdu Bolo!
Preserving Linguistic Ties

APF hosted a discussion of preserving linguistic heritage in the Pakistani diaspora with Urdu software developer Zeerak Ahmed and Masooma Aftab and Hamid Rizvi, the creators of a series of books designed to teach children Urdu using the English alphabet.
U.S.-Pakistan Timeline Project
1980s - 1990s:
Pakistani Immigration to United States
Experienced Dramatic Increase

Pakistani immigration to the United States increased dramatically throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The new immigration system gave preference to highly skilled and formally-educated applicants, leading to an influx of medical professionals, engineers, and others with advanced professional degrees. After becoming naturalized citizens, Pakistani immigrants were able to sponsor immediate relatives to come to America. View More on the Timeline

Your story is part of our collective history. Share your own experiences of migration to the United States or of visiting Pakistan by filling out a timeline entry.
If you like what APF is doing to share our community's authentic experiences and stories, then join us in creating a sustainable foundation to honor our heritage.

The APF Blog

As a half-Pakistani American, Noah Usman caught snippets of Urdu through conversations with extended family but never became fluent. When he visited Pakistan for the first time at the age of 18, he looked forward to immersing himself in Urdu - he experienced quite the opposite. Read More


On March 8, thousands of people across Pakistan marched for gender equality in the Aurat March. Those marching seek to improve the gender gap in Pakistan, which remains pronounced.
Mentoring Matters
Give back to future leaders in the Pakistani American community by creating a mentor profile on the APF Connect mentorship platform.
Join the APF Leadership Council
The APF National Leadership Council is a network of professionals across the United States who shape and implement the APF mission.
During a panel on Shaping Public Narratives at the APF Board Retreat, Leadership Council member Fatima Salman discussed why U.S. think tanks must cultivate study of Pakistan.
Together, we will empower communities and build bridges.
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