Houston marked the beginning of our journey on July 5th, when we met with Mr. Nusruddin Rupani, Chairman of PAHCHAAN USA, to share our vision and strengthen collaboration. That evening, Mr. Omar Khawaja and Ms. Mona Zaman graciously hosted a Meet and Greet dinner, bringing friends and supporters together in a warm setting at their home.
The next day, July 6th, we gathered for PAHCHAAN USA’s first official board meeting with Mr. Rupani, joined also by other PAHCHAAN USA Board Members through Zoom, aligning on next steps and focus areas for the months ahead. The same evening, Mrs. Taskeen Khawaja welcomed us over dinner to meet the Khawaja sisters and continue the discussions on collaboration and future possibilities. Over the next two days, we held several additional meetings, including those with Mr. Shaizad Chatriwala and Mr. Salman Razzaqi, during which we further explored collaboration and growth opportunities.
What a terrific start to a hectic journey that followed.
Dallas came alive with the APPNA 48th Annual Convention. During the conference, Dr. Tufail Muhammad, Chairman Child Rights Group Pakistan Pediatric Association, and PAHCHAAN joined our delegation to propagate the Khushhal Khandan Program.
On July 9, we met Drs. Nasrum Iqbal and Maqsood Ahmed, followed by the King Edward Medical College Alumni of North America (KEMCANA) gathering. Later that evening, we met Dr. Razi Ud Din, a member of APPNA Peds.
The next day, July 10, we attended meet-and-greet sessions with APPNA members and faculty, including Dr. Mehak Khalid Aziz, and a delegation from APPNA, the New England Chapter of APPNA (Drs. Nida Khan and Raffia Qutab), introduced by Dr. Asimah Qayyum. We also met Dr. Muhammad Zeshan, leader of APPNA and PAPANA, recently elected as a young entrepreneur Member of the BOD of APPNA. Later in the day, we had a meeting with Mr. Aslam Merchant and connected with many colleagues, including Dr. Yousaf Ali (Board member, Rochester), Dr. Naghma Malik, Dr. Mehreen Siddiqui, Dr. Tariq Zafar, Dr. Junaid Habib Khan, Amir Aslam, and Dr. Amjad Saqib (Akhuwat).
On July 11, Mr. Nasrum Iqbal hosted faculty meetings and the SWDRC session, followed by faculty dinners. Dr. Naeem Zafar presented the Khushhal Khandan Program to FJMCANA faculty. Dr. Sumra Mobeen Rathore introduced PAHCHAAN’s work, while Dr. Naheed Choudhry, President of WAPPNA, showed strong interest in long-term collaboration.
Finally, on July 12, at the 10th APPNA Peds anniversary, Dr. Naeem Zafar, President of PAHCHAAN, spoke as the guest of honor, sharing updates on the Khushhal Khandan Program and plans. Dr. Safdar Sultan Khan (Chair APPNA Peds), Dr. Mobeen Rathore, and Dr. Khalid Kamal praised the program’s impact. We also met Dr. Naheed Usmani and Dr. Humera Qamar, past and present APPNA Presidents.
Throughout the visit, we were graciously hosted by Dr. Hamayun Nawaz, who has now become the focal person of PAHCHAAN in Dallas.
Virginia offered both warmth and purpose. On July 13th, we reconnected with Dr. Bazigha Hasan and Ms. Rabia Aziz at a fundraising dinner hosted by Dr. Shazia Hamid that embodied generosity and commitment to PAHCHAAN.
The following evening, July 14th, Dr. Bazigha’s daughter, Ms. Sara, with her husband, graciously hosted a dinner for us. On July 15th, we met with Dr. Mohsin Ijaz and further explored ways to strengthen and responsibly expand PAHCHAAN’s work. The next day, we met Prof. Ghazanfar Sheikh, a renowned pediatrician of Lahore, now living in Virginia. He also introduced us to some of his friends for PAHCHAAN support.
The days were filled with meaningful exchanges, and by July 17th, our Virginia visit had left us with renewed partnerships and friendships.
Waqas Subhani, a young IT professional, introduced us to his friends on July 18th in Chicago, engaging in discussions on strengthening partnerships and exploring new avenues of collaboration. The main Chicago event was a fundraiser at Rockford on July 19th, where Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui and Ms. Ghazala Siddiqui hosted more than 50 fellow Pakistanis, including many expatriate doctors such as Dr. and Mrs. Amer Rahman, who welcomed us and assured their full cooperation in expanding PAHCHAAN’s initiatives and building deeper community connections.
On July 20th, Cincinnati embraced us with warmth and generosity. Dr. Amir Raja and Dr. Shehzad Safdar hosted a heartfelt fundraising dinner attended by more than 50 dedicated and enthusiastic Pakistani expatriates. Later that evening, we also met Dr. Zahid Saeed, a senior gastroenterologist known for his patented innovations in medicine. Drs. Amir and Shehzad further introduced us to new friends, widening the circle of those who stand with our mission of care, dignity, and respect.
Our Jacksonville journey began on July 21st with engaging discussions with Drs. Mobeen and Sumra Rathore. On July 22nd and 23rd, we had the privilege of meeting Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen, Professor and Chief of Community and Societal Pediatrics at the University of Florida and President of the International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health (ISSOP). His insights into community-centered care deeply resonated with our work and vision.
On July 25th, we were warmly hosted by Dr. Mobeen Rathore for dinner with friends, where the Jacksonville community showed complete solidarity with our Mother and Child Health Promotion Centers (MCHPCs).
On July 26th, we were warmly welcomed in North Carolina with a dinner hosted by Dr. Khalid Aziz and his wife, Dr. Naveed Aziz. The evening was filled with thoughtful reflection, meaningful conversations, and a reaffirmation of PAHCHAAN’s steady commitment to the communities that trust us with their stories and needs.
On July 27th, Dr. Tanvir Chodhri, President of the APPNA North Carolina chapter, along with Dr. Khalid Aziz and Dr. Maqsood Ahmad, Past Presidents, hosted a fundraiser for PAHCHAAN, where the doctors of North Carolina committed to support one MCHPC center in memory of Faheem Siddiqui, their dear departed friend, and to stand by his bereaved family.
On July 29, Dr. Fazal Mehmood, an entrepreneurial APPNA member, Executive Director at the John Maxwell Company, life coach, and international inspirational speaker, hosted a dinner. Dr. Faz shared insights on organizational improvements and assured his and his team’s support for PAHCHAAN. During this visit, Dr. Naeem Zafar also met with Dr. Taimur Zaman, Ayesha Farooq, and other Pakistani expatriates in Pennsylvania.
The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent in Canada (APPIC) held its conference from August 2nd to 4th in Toronto. Dr. Naeem Zafar, invited as a speaker, highlighted primary health care as a cost-effective community strategy, presenting statistics from the Khushhal Khandan Program. Prof. Zulfiqar Bhutta, from Aga Khan University and SickKids Hospital, Toronto, applauded PAHCHAAN’s work and offered collaboration. Other delegates, including Dr. Adnan Ali Shah from Manitoba with his children, Dr. Rafay and Dr. Mehek, also expressed interest in supporting PAHCHAAN. Dr. Jabeen Fayyaz, Medical Director at SimKIDS, hosted Dr. Naeem at their simulation center, where he also met Dr. Akhter Hamid (HOD Pediatrics, SickKids), Dr. Uzair ul Ghani Syed (Chair, APPNA MERIT Research Program), and Neeraj Dhiman. A collaborative research initiative with SickKids was agreed upon. In Mississauga, Dr. Naeem reconnected with his King Edward Medical College classmates, who pledged full support. Dr. Muhammad Saeed Choudhry committed a monthly contribution to the Khushhal Khandan Program, while Dr. Naqeeb Khalid, PAHCHAAN’s focal person in Canada, coordinated the gathering. Mr. Saif Syed also volunteered to lead PAHCHAAN’s community efforts in Toronto alongside Dr. Khalid.
The Trust for Malnutrition and Stunted Growth (TMSG), led by its Co-Chair Mr. Najeeb Syed, is providing low-cost, internationally approved Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and micronutrients for women, children, and babies at discounted prices, along with technical support for PAHCHAAN’s Khushhal Khandan Program. In this regard, an MoU signing ceremony was held at the Rotary Club St. Catherine South’s fundraiser. Members of Rotary Club, TMSG, and PAHCHAAN were present on the occasion. Dr. Naeem Zafar (PAHCHAAN) and Mr. Najeeb Syed (TMSG) signed the Memorandum of Understanding. Dr. Naeem Zafar’s presentation was very well received, and Rotary Club St. Catherine South committed to working alongside Rotary Clubs in Lahore to support the program. A book was also presented to Dr. Naeem Zafar as a memento.
