Pakistan Association of Australia

26/08/2026

On Monday, 24 August 2026, a special event in honour of The Fred Hollows Foundation was successfully organised at a prominent venue in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia.
Professor Dr Muhammad Moin, Vice Chancellor of King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan, attended as the chief guest during his special one-day visit to Sydney.
The Regional Head of The Fred Hollows Foundation, Mr M. Farooq, attended alongside Professor Dr Moin. It was also a pleasure to hear from the CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation, Mr Ross Piper, who spoke briefly yet powerfully about the Foundation's remarkable work, its ongoing humanitarian efforts and its vision for future services to communities in need.

The event was organised through the platform of the Pakistan Association of Australia in honour of The Fred Hollows Foundation and its dedicated team. Special congratulations were extended to Mr Rana Zafar Hussain for successfully organising and hosting this meaningful event.

The Fred Hollows Foundation continues to provide commendable services aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness and restoring sight to people in need around the world. In Pakistan, the Foundation is also carrying out important work to improve access to eye health services and treatment.

Shaniera Akram, an ambassador for The Fred Hollows Foundation, spoke about the Foundation's important work in Pakistan and its efforts to treat avoidable blindness. She shared her experiences visiting rural project sites, including medical camps in Punjab and Chichawatni, where she witnessed free cataract surgeries being performed firsthand.
Shaniera Akram also highlighted the significant emotional, social and physical impact of preventable blindness on vulnerable communities. She appealed to the Pakistani-Australian community to support the Foundation through regular donations, which are tax-deductible in Australia.
A large number of prominent members and representatives of the Pakistani-Australian community attended the event, including Mr Zahid Rana, Rao Noor, Professor Rahat Munir, Mr Iftikhar Rana, former President of the Pakistan Australia Business Council and former President of the Pakistan Association of Australia; Rao Insaf Ali Khan, President of the Pak Engineers Council Australia; Azam Mohammad, former Consul General of Pakistan in Australia; and The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane MLC, former Deputy President of the Legislative Council of NSW.

Other distinguished attendees included Syed Zafar Hussain Shah, CEO of Pak Australia Media/Sada-e-Watan and prominent senior journalist; Raja Taseer, CEO of Humwatan Media and senior journalist; Chaudhry Shakeb Amer, Founder of the Pak Australia Youth Association, together with his team; Dr Khurram Kiyani, President of the Pak Australia Professional Federation; Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal, President of the Pakistan Association of Australia; Ahsan Rana, prominent PAA trustee and businessman; Ashraf Ali Chohan, Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Association; Muhammad Nabeel Khan, General Secretary; Rana Waqas, Vice President; Rao Shafqat Ali, Vice President; Sheikh Naveed Anwar, Treasurer; and Ms Batool, Vice President.
Also in attendance were Zubair Shad, son of the esteemed Chaudhry Anwar Shad; Mr Rana Ijaz, CEO of the Pakistani Community Welfare Trust; Ali Chohan, Honorary Auditor General of the Pakistani Diplomatic Mission in Australia, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Chohan; Dr Aila Khan, representative of the Shaukat Khanum Trust in Australia; Atif Fahim of the Shahid Afridi Foundation; prominent community leader and Global Women Award nominee and the winner of that award Rakhshanda Zaman; .”, Rana Nasir , Mr Yasir ,,, Ch eijaz gujjar ,, sayed Muhammad Ali shah , Zahir hussain , Akhtar ali Mughal , mr Shahid Diwana with his family ,, Ashraf Shad and Mrs Yasmeen shad .. Prominent lawyer mr Steven Jhones , famous singer Mr shahid javaid .. Alison Graham ,, Mr Andrew Elliot ,,, mr Jhon headstrong ,,, mr David Hampton ,, Mr Richard shelling ,, Rachel Stevens ,,, Emily David , others distinguished guests also graced this event with their flamboyant presence,,The Consul General of Pakistan Qamar Zaman paid a special visit accompanied by Mrs Qamar Zaman . We cordially thank all of the attendees 🙏🌹♥️

25/08/2026

25/08/2026

22/08/2026

Pakistan Association of Australia Celebrates Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day
Sydney, 21 August 2026: The Pakistan Association of Australia (PAA) hosted a grand celebration of Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day at the Granville Centre on Friday, 21 August, bringing together the Consul-General of Pakistan, state parliamentarians, councilors, community leaders, media representatives and a large gathering of Pakistani Australian families.
Mr. Qamar Zaman, Consul-General of Pakistan in Sydney, was the Chief Guest. MS Julia Finn MP, Member for Granville and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and for the Arts, and Mr. Nathan Hagarty MP, Member for Leppington and Government Whip, were among the distinguished guests and speakers. The event was also attended by prominent community leaders – Mr. Iftikhar Rana, President Pak-Aus Business Council, Mr. Ejaz Khan, President Aus-Pak Association of Australia, Mr. Insaf Ali Khan, President Pak-Aus Engineers Association and many others.
The evening commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Dr Tahir, followed by the Australian and Pakistani national anthems, beautifully performed by Mehreen Javed.
Welcoming the guests, Mr. Nabeel Khan, General Secretary of the Pakistan Association of Australia, welcomed the distinguished guests and highlighted the importance of celebrating Pakistan’s history, culture and heritage while recognising the community’s responsibilities and contribution to Australia. Mr. Khan emphasized the Association’s commitment to building bridges between Pakistani heritage and Australia’s multicultural society, supporting the community and encouraging younger generations to remain connected with their roots.
Addressing the gathering, MS Julia Finn MP and Mr. Nathan Hagarty MP congratulated the Pakistani community on the 79th Independence Day and recognised the historical significance of Pakistan’s journey since 1947. They acknowledged the growing contribution of Pakistani Australians across healthcare, education, small business, public service and technology, and highlighted the community’s important role in enriching Australia’s multicultural society.
Both MPs also recognised the work of the Pakistan Association of Australia in fostering community engagement, preserving cultural values and supporting social initiatives. They encouraged young Pakistani Australians to take pride in their heritage, become responsible and active citizens, and continue making a positive contribution to Australian society.

Mr. Qamar Zaman, The Consul General of Pakistan, praised the Association for organising the celebration and particularly appreciated the enthusiastic participation of children in the cultural program. He stressed the importance of keeping younger generations connected to their culture, history and heritage, while paying tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the sacrifices of those who contributed to the creation of Pakistan.
The cultural program, featuring talented children and young members of the community, was one of the highlights of the evening. The audience was also thoroughly entertained by a powerful live performance by local band Retro Gravity, who captivated the crowd with their energetic renditions of popular Pakistani national songs and music.
The Association also presented Community Service Awards to individuals recognised for outstanding contributions and achievements in fields including medicine, literature, sports, charity, journalism and community service.
The event concluded with Mr. Chaudhry Mohammad Iqbal, President of the Pakistan Association of Australia, reflecting on the significance of Independence Day and the sacrifices and vision behind the creation of Pakistan. He called on Pakistani Australians to celebrate their heritage with pride while upholding the values of unity, service and social responsibility, and continuing to contribute positively to Australia. He also thanked the distinguished guests, community leaders, sponsors, volunteers and the wider community for their continued support.
The successful celebration reflected the unity, cultural pride and growing contribution of the Pakistani Australian community, while reaffirming the Pakistan Association

14/08/2026

Jashan e Azadi Mubarak, Pakistan! 🇵🇰

Today we celebrate Pakistan and the enduring people-to-people ties between our two countries. From families and students to businesses and communities, these connections continue to bring Australia and Pakistan closer.

Happy Independence Day! 🇦🇺🇵🇰