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.

Pakistan Association of New Zealand (PANZ) appreciates and welcome the new programme made by the NZ government to assist foreign nationals in serious hardship. The Assistance for Foreign Nationals impacted by COVID-19 Programme will provide temporary, in-kind assistance to eligible people to help meet basic needs such as food and accommodation until they find means of supporting themselves in New Zealand or are able to return home.

Under the new Programme, assistance may be provided for:

• food and household goods required to meet urgent and immediate needs
• blankets, hot water bottles and basic clothing to meet urgent and immediate needs
• over-the-counter medication to meet urgent and immediate needs
• accommodation (including rent, boarding costs and rent arrears)
• utilities (electricity, gas). Excludes internet and broadband connection and plans
• if required, pre-paid phone cards to enable emergency communication and communication with consulate/embassy
• petrol/travel (limited to travel required to shift to new location for employment purposes or to airport to leave New Zealand).

The Programme is worth $37.6 million and will run for three months and one can access this support through Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Group from the 1st of July 2020.

Please note no cash payments will be offered, and assistance is transitional and time-limited

Shukria / Ngā mihi

Team #PANZ

Today we have received a news that Foreign Ministers of both the countries Pakistan and New Zealand had a telephone call to discuss the matters related to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic as well as bilateral relations. Details are as follows:

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with The Right Honorable Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, to discuss matters related to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic as well as bilateral relations.

Highlighting cooperative relations between Pakistan and New Zealand, the Foreign Minister underscored the importance of a coordinated international response to deal with the unprecedented pandemic.

Foreign Minister Qureshi commended New Zealand’s efforts, under the proactive leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, to control the spread of the disease.

Underscoring that a global recession was imminent, and the pandemic had seriously impacted the developing world, Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted Prime Minister Imran Khan’sGlobal Initiative for Debt Relief and hoped that New Zealand would lend its support to the Initiative.

The Foreign Minister highlighted on-going restrictions in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K), which were hampering dissemination of information and preventing unfettered supply of medicines and other essentials needed to combat Covid-19. He also expresseddeep concern over heightened hate crimes and demonization of the Muslim minority in India in the context of Covid-19. The Foreign Minister also noted that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom had expressed concerns regarding the steepest and alarming deterioration in the religious freedom conditions in India.

The Foreign Minister thanked the New Zealand government for providing visa extension to Pakistanis on temporary visas in New Zealand who could not leave due to border restrictions. The Foreign Minister also appreciated the assurances of the New Zealand Foreign Minister for taking care of the 200 Pakistani students in New Zealand.

The two Ministers agreed to remain in touch.

Source: http://mofa.gov.pk/foreign-ministers-telephone-call-with-the-foreign-minister-of-new-zealand/

Dear Respected Community Members,

Please see the attached letter from H.E. Dr. Abdul Malik, High Commissioner, addressed to all Pakistani community in New Zealand regarding High Commission’s support during the current situation and establishment of ‘Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for COVID-19’.

Letter from High Commissioner of Pakistan to all Pakistan community members in New Zealand.

(Click here to view the letter)

Regards,

Team #PANZ

Dear Naveed

Assalam o alaikum!

The High Commission appreciates the various steps taken by the Pakistan Association of New Zealand (PANZ) to facilitate the Pakistani community in New Zealand, affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, including the establishment of a Pandemic Management Committee.

I would like to express on behalf of High Commission of Pakistan our full cooperation and support to PANZ and would like to assure the Pakistani community members through PANZ platform that the High Commission is working 24/7 to provide relief to Pakistani community.

In case of emergencies all community members may be informed to contact Ms. Mariya Abdul Ghafoor (Deputy High Commissioner) at following number and email:

Mobile# +64 2102817814
Email: mariya.ghafoor@gmail.com

The High Commission would remain open and will continue to serve the community. However, if due to any compelling reasons it has to be be closed, the Consular services to the Pakistan Community would still be available online, on case to case basis.

Please feel free to contact me or my staff if you wish to discuss anything. We shall keep PANZ informed about measures taken by Government of Pakistan in regard to COVID-19, for the benefit of Pakistani community in New Zealand.

Together we can pass through these difficult times!

Stay safe.

Summer has arrived and so is the cricket, After the Successful Cricket tournament in Auckland which was organized by the Pakistan Association of New Zealand on 1 Dec, 𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗭 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻 has also organized the 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵 on Saturday 7th December successfully.

There were three teams contested for indoor tennis ball cricket tournament 2019, 1- PANZ, 2- OUPSA (Otago University Pakistan Student Association) and 3- OMA (Otago Muslims Association) + Bangal Tigers Otago.

Each team has played two Pool matches with 6 overs each and OUPSA & OMA reached the finals. The final was a very close contest. OUPSA scored 68 runs and defeated the OMA by 12 runs. In the final, Waqas Ahmed has made the highest score of 27 runs and Hamza Altaf has taken three wickets
.
𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗭 would like to thank everyone who has participated and volunteered their time to make this tournament successful, special thanks to Mr. Muhammad Asim Hussain (𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗭 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻) for making it happened. Many congratulations to the OUPSA team on winning the final match and lift the winner’s trophy, OMA & Bangal Tigers for getting the Gold Medal for securing the runner up and PANZ for getting the Silver Medal for securing the 3rd place in the tournament.

PANZ women wing was represented by Eimaan Hamid and Farah Rais Alvi at the Ethnic women leaders forum yesterday at the Fickling convention center.

Office of Ethnic communities organised an event for the special space that they are creating for conversation and connection for ethnic women. This space will be known as the “Ethnic Women Leaders’ Forum”. There were opportunities to talk to and get to know women from many different communities. This meet and greet commenced with the introduction of advisors and proceeded with a light dinner. Following this, we took part in introductory activities, to get further acquainted with each other. The evening ended with a Q and A, and formal goodbyes. This event has a huge part in the further representation of Pakistani women in our society. By having ourselves represented in such events, we are at the table, and allow people in power to know that we are here and thriving in integrating our women into the wider community.

A tremendous day of cricket and family fun activities held on 01/12/2019. We want to thank all community members, participants, and volunteers who contributed towards this event immensely to make it a huge success. Participation like this keeps us motivated to do the next activities with more enthusiasm.

A special thanks to our proud sponsors Valentia Technologies, Mahindra Rise, EnviroChem, Computer Warehouse, Mortgage Link, Harcourts Hub Realty, Apna Television, Sadeaala Radio,indiannews.co.nz. Without their continued support, it would be challenging to conduct mega-events.

We have received some excellent feedback about food stalls. Especially the taste of food was mouth-watering — So big shoutout to all the community members who came forward with food stalls. Thank you, and well done.

Sixteen teams from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh participated in cricket tournament. Bengal United, Pashtoon United, Slogger, S/P Eleven, Epsom Lightening, Kebab Masters, Nengyalees, Shield, South Stars, Hard Hitters, Auckland Tigers, Lynfield Fighters, Afghan Zalmi, PANZ Shaheens, Halal Gang and Black Hawks

The quarterfinals held between;
QF1 – Bengal United vs. Pashtoon United
QF2 – Slogger vs. S/P Eleven
QF3 – Epsom Lightning vs. Kebab Masters
QF4 – Nengyalees vs. Shield

The semi-finals held between;
SF1 – Bengal United (Bangladesh) vs. Nengyalees (Pakistan)
SF2 – Epsom Lightning (Sri Lanka) vs. S/P Eleven (India)

The Final;
Epsom Lightning vs. Nengyalees

Due to the rain, the final decision on toss as per the pre-agreed rules. The prize money was distributed evenly between two teams.

The Winner – Epsom Lightening (Sri Lanka)
Runners up – Nengyalees (Pakistan)
Batsmen of the Tournament – Jawaid Akhtar – Nengyalees (Pakistan)
Bowler of the Tournament – Perry – S/P Eleven (India)

Events like these help in understanding each other culture and assembling a diverse community in New Zealand. Love and respect for all communities.