Asalaam-o-Alaikum / Kia Ora
Respected Community Members

Event Postponed – “15 MARCH MEMORIAL CRICKET DAY” CHRISTCHURCH

With the latest developments in the COVID-19 situation and recent announcements of Alert Level 3 for Auckland and the rest of New Zealand moving to Alert level 2, it’s now vital to limit social contact and avoid gathering. For that reason, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone our upcoming event ‘“15 MARCH MEMORIAL CRICKET DAY” CHRISTCHURCH’ until further notice. While we know this is disappointing, we hope you can understand the steps we’re taking to help keep our community safe.

From our whānau to yours, kia kaha and stay safe.

Shukria / Ngā mihi.
Team #PANZ

Asalaam-o-Alaikum / Kia Ora
Respected Community Members

Event Postponed – 23 March Pakistan Day Event

With the latest developments in the COVID-19 situation and recent announcements of Alert Level 3 for Auckland and the rest of New Zealand moving to Alert level 2, it’s now vital to limit social contact and avoid gathering. For that reason, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone our upcoming event ‘23 March Pakistan Day’ until further notice. While we know this is disappointing, we hope you can understand the steps we’re taking to help keep our community safe.

From our whānau to yours, kia kaha and stay safe.

Shukria / Ngā mihi.
Team #PANZ

Assalam-o-Allaikum / Kia ora,

Dear community members,

The “Education (Strengthening Second Language Learning in Primary and Intermediate Schools) Amendment Bill, Member’s Bill, 99—1” introduced in the New Zealand House of Representatives.
This bill aims to strengthen primary and intermediate schools’, including Communities of Learning, access to language learning through additional resources provided by the government to fund professional development, language specialists, and online resources. Under the bill, regulations will be made to identify at least ten priority languages, which will be set following nationwide consultation with communities.

The bill was introduced on 06/09/18, and the first reading was passed on 01/07/20. The passage of the First Reading of the bill is an important milestone. The bill is currently with the Select Committee, and the next phase will be the Second Reading. At this crucial stage, the Select Committee gathers information and prepares a report on the bill for the House, including recommending changes to the bill. In the Second Reading, the House debates the select committee report and votes on the bill.

Urdu is widely spoken and understood not only in Pakistan but also in other South Asian countries, a large number of which live in New Zealand. Introducing our national language Urdu at an early age in the school environment will have a lasting impact on our future generations. It is a rare opportunity for the Pakistani community to make its recommendations known to Parliament and to play its part in promoting the national language, Urdu, here in New Zealand.

Public submissions for “Education (Strengthening Second Language Learning in Primary and Intermediate Schools) Amendment Bill, Member’s Bill 99-1” are being accepted. The submissions are publicly issued and published on the Parliament’s website. Submissions can be written by anyone and help the committee understand what the public thinks about a particular issue. Submissions require only your name or the name of the organization. one day left in the submission of this bill, and the closing date is 28 January 2021.

The Pakistan Association of New Zealand (PANZ) recommends that the inclusion of Pakistan’s national language in secondary languages ​​be given priority in New Zealand. Further calls on the community to take their voices to Parliament for the promotion of the national language Urdu.

Follow the link below to make your submissions.

https://www.parliament.nz/en/ECommitteeSubmission/53SCEW_SCF_BILL_80226/CreateSubmission

Shukria / Ngā mihi

Team #PANZ

Asalaam-o-Alaikum / Kia Ora
Dear Community Members,

On 31 December 2020, the tenure of current PANZ office bearers was completed. An Election Commission was formed. The election schedule was announced on 14/12/2020, with a closing date of 10/01/2021 for expressions of interest (EOI) for the President and three Advisory Board members. This closing date was extended to 17/01/2021 on the community’s feedback.

Advisory Board

The Election Commission received only three valid EOI for the Advisory Board members. As there are only three member’s positions to fill, these three members are elected unopposed, and we are pleased to announce their names.

1-Mr. Asim Mukhtar (Auckland)
2-Mr. Basharat Ali Jan (Auckland)
3-Mr. Ammar Munir (Hamilton)

Executive Council

For PANZ President and the Executive Council members, the Election Commission received only one EOI from the current President, Mr Naveed Hamid, and his team. This EOI has now been accepted and elected unopposed. The Election Commission is pleased to announce Mr Naveed Hamid as the new PANZ President for the next tenure 2021 to 2023.

1-Mr. Naveed Hamid (President)
2-Mr. Ajaz Nusrat ( Vice President)
3-Mr. Umair Zia  (General Secretary)
4-Mr. Muhammad Arshad (joint Secretary)
5-Mrs. Syed Nida Furqan (Treasurer)

Regional Heads and Other Support Roles for Executive Council

1-Mr. Ali Shabbir (Waikato Regional Head)
2-Mr. Syed Khurram Iqbal (Hawke’s Bay Regional Head)
3-Mr. Muhammad Asim Hussain (Otago Regional Head)
4-To be nominated later (Bay of Plenty Regional Head)
5-Mr. Farrukh Gul Qaisrani (Principal Advisor)
6-Mr. Qaiser Rashid (National Relationship Advisor)

We congratulate the new PANZ team and wish them the best of luck in serving the Pakistan community in New Zealand.

Shukria / Ngā mihi,

Farooq Chaudhry
Syed Ahsan Ahmad
Umar Amjad

PANZ Election Commission

Asalaam-o-Alaikum / Kia Ora
Respected Community Members,

We are very pleased to inform you that Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) resumed its business from Saturday 3 October 2020 with its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Asalaam-o-Alaikum / Kia Ora

Respected Community Members,

Please be advised of the upcoming consular visit by Ms. Mariya Abdul Ghafoor, Head of Chancery, Pakistan High Commission.