ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: As many as 52 newly elected leaders of the Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN) met in Islamabad to kick off their terms leading its efforts to strengthen ties between the United States and Pakistan.
Representing the network of over 29,000 Pakistani alumni of US government-funded overseas and in-country exchange programs, these new PUAN leaders from across the country spent two days sharing best practices and developing innovative plans to improve their communities and connect the American and Pakistani peoples.
Speaking at the gathering, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the US Mission in Pakistan Ambassador Paul Jones congratulated the new volunteer leaders of the network’s 13 chapters covering all of Pakistan including Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), and he noted PUAN’s contributions to US-Pakistan relations.
“For over 10 years, PUAN has contributed enormously to mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and the United States, while also supporting education and prosperity in Pakistan,” he said.
PUAN is the largest network of US exchange alumni in the world. Each of PUAN’s regional chapters is led by volunteers who organize community service projects and networking events for its members.
The US government supports exchange programs for Pakistani citizens that allow thousands of Pakistanis to participate each year in high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional exchange programs.
