PANZ Meeting with the Prime Minister and Ministers.

PANZ Members met the Prime Minister, other ministers and Parimentarians.

Today the 7th of May 2005 Pakistan association of New Zealand attended an important meeting with the Prime Minister Helen Clark, Justice minster Phil Goff, Ethnic afairs minister Chris Carter, Members of Parliment, Dr Ashraf Choudry, other Auckland labour party parlementarians and List Party MP from Hamilton Ms Anjum. The meeting was also attended by other Respected leaders of the South Asian community in which they discussed the Labour immigration policies and their strong support to the South Asian communities in the past.

Speaking to Justice minister Mr Phil Goff the General Secretary of PANZ Imtiaz, Finance secretary Haroon and Ex President PANZ Shahid Azad enlightened the problems Pakistani community faced in obtaining visas and other immigration related difficulties and requested the Minister to consider opening a New Zealand Embassy in Pakistan.  Mr Phil Goff stated that there is a Honrary Counsulate in Karachi and Mr Moeen Fida is based there. The Prime minister Helen Clark & Mr Phil Goff mentioned that the Pakistan Foreign minister Mr Qusori and The President Mr Musharraf will be visiting New Zealand next month. They said it will be an opportunity for PANZ and Pakistani community in New Zealand to further discuss this issues as well forming a Coounsulate of Pakistan in New Zealand.   Mr Phil Goff added this would be a good idea to further discuss this with the Pakistan delegate once they arrived in N.Z.

PANZ assured the Prime minister and Labour Party for their continued support in the next oncoming elections. As Labour Party is the only platform through whom South Asian communities can get their rights in New Zealand.  And Labour strongly supports the South Asian communities in New Zealand. PANZ also invited the Prime Minister, the Justice minister, Member of Parliment  Dr Ashraf Choudry on Pakistan independence day celebrations.

PANZ General Secretary also had meetings with Labour Party candidate Mr Dinesh, Secretray Ethnic Council Auckland Mr Gul Zaman and the Editor of Indian Newslink Mr Venkat Raman.

PANZ would also like to thank Mr Nadeem Ashrif, and other members of Pakistian community who were present at todays meeting for their support.

This meeting would not have been possible without Dr Ashraf Choudry M.P support.       

Imtiaz
G.Secretary PANZ