New York State Legislature adopts resolution proclaiming Pakistani-American Business Celebration Day

NEW YORK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2026) The New York State Assembly and Senate adopted a resolution proclaiming March 18, 2026, as “Pakistani-American business Celebration Day” in the State of New York in a move to further strengthen economic and trade linkages.

The resolution recognizes the "outstanding" contributions of the Pakistani-American community in driving economic growth, generating employment, and enriching the cultural diversity of New York State, it was pointed out. It highlights their contributions across key sectors including retail, hospitality, technology, finance, healthcare, and real estate, while underscoring their role as vital economic and cultural bridges between the United States and Pakistan. It further emphasizes opportunities for enhanced trade and investment cooperation between Pakistan and the State of New York.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the U.S., Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with Consul General Aamer Ahmed Atozai and Trade and Investment Counsellor Adnan Mehmood Awan, attended the proceedings at the New York State Legislature in Albany, the capital of New York State.

On the sidelines, the Ambassador held a meeting with the President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to discuss avenues for further strengthening economic and institutional cooperation between Pakistan and the State of New York.

A reception was also held at the Legislature to celebrate the passage of the resolution. It was attended by New York State Senator Leroy Comrie, Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Assembly Members --Phil Ramos, William Colton, Steve Stern, Robert C.

Carroll, Steven Raga, Jenifer Rajkumar, Steven Chan -- and other prominent participants.

In his remarks, Ambassador Sheikh expressed his appreciation for the leadership of Senator John Liu and Assembly Member Nader Sayegh, as well as the dedicated efforts of the American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG), under the stewardship of its President Ali Rashid and his team.

He noted that the growing frequency of high-level engagements and recent positive developments in Pakistan–U.S. relations have created renewed momentum in bilateral ties.

Underscoring the resolution's focus on deepening trade and economic linkages, the Ambassador stressed that the time has now come to translate this positive trajectory into tangible outcomes. He described the initiative as both a culmination of sustained collective efforts and a forward-looking investment in the future, underscoring that durable partnerships must be anchored in strong economic relations that can endure beyond individual tenures and be carried forward by future generations.

The resolution's passage reflects continued bipartisan support and growing recognition of the Pakistani-American community’s invaluable contributions to the economic vitality and social fabric of New York State.

The general sentiment in proclaiming Pakistani-American Businesses Celebration Day was best captured by Senator Jessica Ramos in her statement on the Senate floor: “The Pakistani American community is an important part of the success story and has contributed significantly to make New York a place worth living."

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