Arif Zafar Mansuri is the Chairman of Friends of Pakistan, anchor of The Mansuri Show on ARY Digital
Managing Editor of Pakistan Link and Urdu Link
Staff Reporter
Karachi: A grand tribute ceremony was held at Services Mess Club in Karachi to honor renowned Pakistani-American journalist, industrialist, and community leader Arif Zafar Mansuri. The event was organized by senior journalist and Weekly Urdu Link (USA) editor Shabbir Ahmed Ghori.
Event Begins with Patriotic Spirit
The evening began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by lawyer Nasir Rizwan Khan, followed by the national anthem. The event was moderated by Mehrin Ishaq Qazi, who invited the host, Shabbir Ahmed Ghori, to deliver the opening address.
In his remarks, Ghori praised Mansuri’s unwavering commitment to Pakistan despite living in the United States. He described him as a visionary who aims to see Pakistan thrive socially, economically, and scientifically.
Celebrating a Multifaceted Personality
Arif Zafar Mansuri is the Chairman of Friends of Pakistan, anchor of The Mansuri Show on ARY Digital, and Managing Editor of Pakistan Link and Urdu Link—the most widely read Urdu weekly in North America, with over 18,000 subscribers.
Several senior media personalities also shared their impressions of Mansuri:
- Fida Hussain Soomro, PTV Karachi’s Head of Current Affairs, highlighted Mansuri’s patriotic passion and humanitarian spirit.
- Amjad Hussain Shah, General Manager PTV Karachi, called Mansuri a man of many talents and praised his charm and intellect.
- Abrar Bakhtiar, Editor of Daily Ausaf, called him a “gifted combination of industrialist, journalist, and community leader.”
- Saeed Khalid Fatemi, author of Namurad Karachi Ka Bamurad Musannif, recalled meeting Mansuri 18 years ago and praised his ongoing contributions to Pakistan.
Mansuri Shares His Journey and Vision
In his address, Arif Zafar Mansuri thanked Shabbir Ghori for organizing the heartfelt event and appreciated the audience’s presence. He shared his journey from NED University to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the U.S.
He introduced two guests:
- Kamran Butt, his university mate and owner of Kamran Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
- Minahil, a 17-year-old Rehan School student who has completed 200 English-language podcasts.
Mansuri emphasized the importance of loyalty to one’s homeland and service to humanity over material success.
Promoting Urdu and Pakistan
He highlighted two key initiatives:
- Urdu Markaz International: Dedicated to promoting Urdu literature and supporting Urdu writers.
- Friends of Pakistan: A non-political platform with over 350 members, focused on patriotism and development.
Quoting a verse that drew applause, he said:
“Urdu ko ek din mita denge jahan se,
Ye baat bhi kambakht ne Urdu mein kahi hai.”
Mansuri noted, “Although I am called Pakistani-American, I celebrate both Pakistan and America’s independence days. Pakistan is our mother, and America is our choice.”
A Message to the Government
He stressed that Pakistan is rich in resources with over 70% youth population and $7.5 trillion in mineral wealth. “Pakistan is not poor—we just have an unusual desire to stay poor,” he remarked.
He also criticized the government for neglecting overseas Pakistanis in policymaking, despite their role in economic stability. “We are only remembered for remittances, not included in national dialogue,” he added.
