Houstonian Corner (V10-I33)

Tributes to Hashmat Effendi of the House of Charity at the Pakistan Center: Attended By Senate Chairman Mian Soomro

At the grand hall of the Pakistan Center (South Dairy Ashford at Bissonnet Street in Southwest Houston) and in the presence of several elected & governmental officials and dignitaries of the community, Chairman Senate of Pakistan Mian Mohammad Soomro garlanded Hashmat Effendi for getting the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, the highest Civilian Award given by the Government of Pakistan. Tamgha-i-Imtiaz was given to her in late April 2008 by the Consul General of Pakistan Aqil Naddem at the Houston Consulate of Pakistan.

On this same occasion, Mohammad Mamsa was given special recognition shield for community service. Also young Shuaib Bombaywala was given the plaque for having contributed the minimum $25,000 towards Pakistan Center Trust Fund and as such becoming the First Life-Time Trustee of Pakistan Center.
Earlier office bearers of the Pakistani-American Association of Greater Houston (PAGH) garlanded Mian Mohammad Soomro, who gave the garland to Dr. Joseph Agris (famous plastic surgeon, who has been named by the ABC News Channel as “Angel Doctor” and he goes on missions with the House of Charity), while Hashmat Effendi gave her garland of roses to Nurse Juan of Dr. Agris.

Everyone paid rich tributes to the House of Charity and Ms. Hashmat Effendi. They included Mayor Pro-Tem City of Houston and Candidate of Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, the City of Houston Councilperson Jolanda Jones, Consul General of Pakistan Aqil Naddem, President of PAGH Ghulam Bombaywala, Commercial Attaché of Government of Pakistan at the Houston Consulate Dr. Zia Ahmed and Chairman Senate of Pakistan Mian Mohammad Soomro. Others present on the occasion were John Healey Fort Bend County District Attorney, Michael Bonner and Robert Deardorff of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Natasha Paracha Miss Pakistan World 2008, Hashim Badat of Vice-President the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH), Dr. Asaf Qadeer of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America (APPNA), Nasru Rupani of Rupani Foundation, Major Syed Hasnain Haider Principal Staff Officer to the Chairman Senate and many more.

The House of Charity’s works in help cure the burn victims in Pakistan are most commendable. With their aid, these sufferers have now been able to return to customary existence. This organization goes on numerous yearly trips to Pakistan to provide medical help to the needy children. Its mission led by resolute. Hashmat Effendi and her compassion, has been duly recognized by the Government of Pakistan. In recognition of her diligent humanitarian work, she was rightly awarded the highest Pakistani civilian award at a ceremony earlier in late April 2008 at the Consulate of Pakistan.

For more information about the House of Charity, visit http://www.houseofcharity.com/

$450,000 & Two Months to Pakistani Chair at UT

Talking with our special correspondent from his office in Colleyville, Texas, Tom Slone, owner of the Touchtone Communications, informed that $450,000 are required to be raised by October 31, 2008 to have the First Pakistani Chair at the University of Texas. He will soon be visiting various cities for this purpose.
“Temple Foundation out of Temple Texas has given a matching Grant of $500,000 towards creating a Pakistani Chair at the University of Texas by October 31, 2008. $50,000 has been further raised. We are looking for Philanthropists’ from all backgrounds, especially the Americans of Pakistani Origin, to contribute another $450,000 towards the goal of $1,000,000 for this Chair’s position. The position will be brought under the College of Business, with emphasis on International Culture and Issues Related to Cross-Cultural Trade and Business Practices”: Said Mr. Slone.

Tom Slone informed that his company Touchtone Communications founded five years hires and trains educated and motivated talent with the management skills to excel in the global market. Touchtone Communications has a large Call Center in the Evacuee Trust Complex in Islamabad, Pakistan, with more than 600 employees. Several Pakistani graduates in IT field do not get jobs after their graduation. Those graduates are trained by Touchtone Communications to provide outsourcing opportunities to clients in USA and UK.

Tom Slone, who is also one of the Board of Directors at the University of Pittsburgh, has plans to open various vocational schools nationwide in Pakistan, to refine the talent for the worldwide market. As part of this effort, he has been working with Eric Stemberg of the University of Pittsburgh and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Texas Kevin Hegarty.

“With the Aga Khan Foundation’s signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with UT in April 2008, the opportunity to further the idea of Pakistani Chair at UT has become more real”: Added Mr. Slone.

For more information, call 832-275-0786.

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