Building Bridges. Opening Minds. Empowering Communities.

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Photos Courtesy: Harris Samad, Assistant Director, South Asia Center, and member APF Leadership Council.

The APF team represented by The Board Chair Dr. Nasar Qureshi, Chair of Partnership Committee Amina Akram, Board Members and Leadership Council members met with Mission Director of USAID-Pakistan, Reed J. Aeschliman, and USAID/Pakistan Senior Partnership Advisor, Kanwal Bokharey on October 17^th.

The USAID team was visiting US to meet with various US Pakistani diaspora organizations and individuals to brainstorm about the ideas for a systematic engagement with USAID for improving humanitarian, social, and economic outcomes in and for Pakistan. During the meeting with APF the USAID representative presented an overview of their vision which as followed by an engaging discussion and sharing of ideas by the APF members present. (Uzair Younus, Director of the Pakistan initiative at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, kindly arranged the meeting at the Atlantic Council headquarters, in Washington, DC).

1. These bamboo shelters are empowering communities displaced by Pakistan's floods - CNN

"To address the need for emergency housing, architect Yasmeen Lari and the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan have been working around the clock to equip people in hard-hit Sindh province with the skills and materials to construct prefabricated bamboo shelters". Read

2. Brother reflects on late chef Fatima Ali's memoir, 'Savor: A Chef’s Hunger for More' - GMA

"The book serves as an inspiring ode to the food, family and the countries Ali loved so much, spanning her childhood in Pakistan to winning viewers' hearts as the Bravo "Top Chef" season 15 fan favorite". Read

3. Brigham Young University students create new water filtration device for Pakistan - Church News

"15 water treatment devices created by BYU students are now being implemented in communities in Pakistan, in coordination with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Working in Provo, Utah, a group of BYU engineering students created a new filtration device that is helping thousands". Read

4. Harvard students raise $32,000 for Pakistan - Harvard Gazette

"To date, they have raised more than $32,000 in aid that has gone to five Pakistani NGOs that provide victims with meals, shelter, sanitary products, and more. In addition, the effort has helped galvanize other South Asian organizations at Harvard and at other schools to mobilize and provide aid". Read