Pakistan Association of San Francisco Bay Area is a non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization. Its mission is to bring cultural, social awareness by holding certain events, harmonize and assist Pakistani American community.
This organization has been working on its mission since1974. Pakistan association started in San Francisco in the year of 1974 by few Pakistani American people who gathered in a house to celebrate Independence Day of Pakistan. Afterward, this trend of quietly celebrating, Independence Day, at a small level continued. As strength of Pakistani American community grew, this group of pioneers felt the need to formulate a formal organization with the support of community, these pioneers got inspired and “the Pakistan Association of Bay Area” was born. Gradually, its name was registered in the city of San Francisco in the year of 1992.Since then this organization has been actively celebrating various cultural events, especially Pakistan Independence Day, with a great enthusiasm in this city.

History

The Pakistan Association of San Francisco, a Bay Area non-profit organization, has brought awareness of the Pakistan American community for 18 years. PASF organizes national cultural and social events like the Pakistani Independence Day celebration in San Francisco held yearly in August. The Pakistani Association started in San Francisco in 1974 by a few members from the Pakistani community who gathered in a house to celebrate Pakistan Independences Day. The Independence Celebration took place at a very small level. The community has since grown in number due to the Pakistan Association efforts to bring awareness to the community of its importance, uniting the Pakistani people, and motivating others to be part of the Pakistani Association. By 1991 community awareness increased and the Pakistani Independence Day celebrations took place in Halls or Restaurants. By 1992 the community decided to register as an organization with city of San Francisco under the name, “Pakistan Association of San Francisco Bay Area”. As a result, Independence Day is now celebrated every year openly in a public a place here in San Francisco. The organization also hosts the following programs throughout the year:

• Every January: “Hum do Naat” Program
• Every June: Community Picnic
• Every August: Pakistani Independence Day
• Every Year on December 25th, the Pakistani Association celebrates the birth day of Pakistan founder Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Since, the registration of the Pakistan Association,The following people served on the board:

Mr. Bashir Abdulla, Khawaja Ashrif, Mirza Tarkish, Inaam Choudhary, Miss. Rana Faiz, Abdul Latif, Anwar Siddiqui, Akhtar Shah and other members of the community.
In 2001 Abdul Latif was President of the Pakistan Association. In the 2002 elections, Akhtar Shah became President of the Pakistan Association and served as a President until 2004. In his two years term, Shah worked hard to increase membership as well as attendance to all events, and standardized how the Pakistani Independent Day was organized. Shah was instrumental in creating the Pakistan Association web site and e-mail address. Most importantly the Pakistan Association under his leadership achieved the status of non-profit organization with the help of Ellahi Law Firm. Also, Pakistani consulate campus was approved for San Francisco Bay Area to provide the community with the consulate related services, like visa, passport, birth certificate, NIC card etc.

Our Team:

Our team includes;

M. Akhtar Shah - President
Afzal Chaudhry - Vice President
Muhammad Safder - General Secretary
Tariq Choudhry - Social Secretary
S. Romeel Quddus - Treasurer

The Board of Directors consists of;

Syed Nusrat
Irfan Rehman
Salma Butt
Emmad Khan
Zamurad Khan
Nabeel Awan

Goals:

Acquire Pakistan Association Community Center building to provide numerous services:

1. a- Hall for all types of event sizes (Eid Prayers)
   b- Funeral Hall (emergency death)
2. An office for the Pakistan Association of San Francisco Bay Area.
3. A Library which will provide National literature for the Pakistan American community.
4. Weekends School which will provide classes in Urdu (national language) to our youth.
5. A guest house for any transit community members to provide a temporary shelter and guidance. To achieve the above goals, the Pakistani community membership is very important. By having a large membership, Pakistan Association can acquire land from the city as a donation to build the center. This community center will be named “Pakistan House”.

This can all be possible only if the community unites, collaborates, and extends generous hand. (May God assist us to make it happen, Amen)