52 PUAN leaders meet to kick off their terms

Islamabad:  Fifty-two newly elected leaders of the Pakistan-U.S. 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 U.S. 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, Ambassador Paul Jones, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Mission in Pakistan, 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 U.S.-Pakistan relations. 

“For over ten 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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.