PIA NEWS VOL.

7 ISSUE 15

PIA News
Vol.7

14t th August, 2017

Editor: Dr. Zarrin S Siddiqui

TH

PAISTANIS IN AUSTRALIA TOOK THE LEAD PASSION, INTEGRITY & APNAPAN

Dear All,
A very happy 71st indpendence day to you all. We have achieved another milestone last year
with the first community group to lead the Azadi celebrations as 14 th August officially started in
Australia.

The cover photograph shows group of Pakitani community members who were part of national
anthem as the clock strike midnight.
We did have expression of interest from two Pakistani TV channels to cover but because of the
lack of official bureau in Perth it could not happen. However it went live on PIA twitter account.

This even coincided with the safety first gameshow supported through a grant from WA Police
under communty crime prevention grant and was attended by representatives from WA Police
Officers Don Emanuel-Smith, Ebraheem Latheef and Zainoon. Hon. Tjorn Sibma MLC.
represented Opposition leader Hon. Mike Nahan. He holds the portfolios for Community
Interests, Veterans, Youth and Seniors. He offered his support to the community for various
issues raised and all invited guests interacted with the commnity to unerstand their issues and
advice on how to resolve them.

Abdul Rahman Hamid with Kamran presented a brief overview about the Homeless Run Project
in Perth while Bilal and Bindaas Beats kept the audience entertained. Our thanks to Maria
Farooq, Asma Sabir, Kauser Saad, Hafiz Jawad Mehmood, Nazar Khan, Shehla Shah and all the
young volunteers for assiting with the event.

The official photographs will be uploaded as soon as they are available.

Pakistanis in Australia Inc. is an incorporated group to support students and migrants from Pakistan in their settlement
and to initiate projects in Australia and Pakistan that promote mutual collaboration between two countries and promote a
positive image of Pakistan and Australia Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/pakistanisinaustralia Twitter
@PIAInc Website: pakistanisinaustrali.wix.com/piainc Email: piaincorporated@gmail.com
PIA NEWS VOL.7 | Issue 15 2

A COMPASSIONATE VISA IS THE NEED OF THE DAY

Last week Late Asghar Ali was laid to rest after a long wait by his family if they will be able to get
the visa to see him one last time. Till now we have three Pakistani cases where families have to
wait much longer or were denied to come to Australia to bid farewell to their loved ones.
It is time that the Commonwealth of Australia may consider to introduce a new visa category for
similar cases where the visa is grante dimmediately for a shorter time if not possible for 40 days.
( grieving time).

We have raised it with the shadow minister for Community interests Hon. Tjorn Sibma alongwith
difficulties that families face if the breadwinner is on 457 visa and passess away. This is a serious
issue and affects families in long run. It is important that the Department of Immigration and
Border Protection takes into account individual cases.

PAKISTANI MIGRANTS IN VICTORIA FACES ISSUE WITH DRIVING LICENSE

Pakistan High Commission is working to resolve the issue of verification of Pakistani licenses. At
the moment a numbe rof migrants/studenst from Pakistan have raied concerns that they are
being told to obtain learner permits despite years of driving experience. The VICROADS is using
the excuse that they have found fraudulent documents and of course one would require them to
be vigilant so we have safe drivers on the road but the best option is to work with High
Commission.

ISSUES WITH IDENTIFICATION

Two issues have been brought to us. One is where GPs are bulk billing to sign the identification
documents for the purpsoe of citizenship. Second, where a GP has refused to sign the papers for
a family who has been attending to his practice fo rmore than five years. This raise the
significance of subtle discrimiantion thats not going away any sooner. If you have faced any such
issue/s please let us know.

And make sure that if there is a new born in the family/ process the citizenship requirements
immediately as you never know when you have to travel. Keep your documents uptodate.

WA POLICE COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION GRANT

The next two events will be a women morning tea and the cricket match in next three months so
will keep you updated.

SENIORS WEEK 2017

Application for funding has been submitted for poetry evening on 5th November so save the
date. And if there are any ghazal singers that you want to invite please do let us know while we
plan.

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PIA NEWS VOL.7 | Issue 15 3

CAN YOU HELP? SIMPLE YET PRECIOUS FOR ME.

Emirates provide Amenity kits on long flights. If you have any spare please give them to us for
distribution to school kids. We can fill them with pencil, sharpener and eraser or you can prefill
them.
Simple but they make valuable gift for kids who long for plain things.
We also need a champion to manage the collection if at all possible as we are already taking
care of reading glasses.

LOSING DR. PFAU

We mourn the loss of Pakistani Mother Teressa, Dr. Ruth Pfau. Tributes are pouring in for a German nun
who spent more than half a century in Pakistan battling leprosy and helping the country's most
vulnerable people. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced in a statement that a state
funeral would be held for Ruth Pfau who died on Thursday, aged 87.

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PIA NEWS VOL.7 | Issue 15 4

"She gave new hope to innumerable people and proved through her illustrious toil that serving humanity
knows no boundaries," the statement said. "We are proud of her exemplary services, and she will remain
in our hearts as a shining symbol in times ahead." Pfau trained as a doctor in her youth and went on to
join a Catholic sisterhood.

She arrived in Pakistan, where she spent the rest of her life, in 1960. She specialised in the treatment of
leprosy, a disease that causes discolouration of the skin, sores, and disfigurements. Pfau's work earned
her the Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam, one of Pakistan's highest civilian awards. A satte funeral is planned for
her soon.

FINAL WORD

On the 9th of August 2017, four gems

lost their lives while saving this entire
nation. According to the ISPR Press
Release, 4 personnel of Pakistan Army
were killed while foiling a terrorist
attack in the Upper Dir district of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These were
identified as Major Ali Salman (in
Photograph) , Havaldar Ghulam Nazir,
Havaldar Akhtar and Sepoy Abdul
Karim.

Do not forget to remember their

sacrifice when you change your profile
pictures and celebrate Independence
Day. These families are the very
reasons that we celebrate Pakistan
with pride. Remember tehm in your
prayers tonight.