Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

Search

 

Cablegate: Toronto Diaspora Series: An Influential Pakistani-Canadian

VZCZCXRO0279
RR RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHON #0239/01 2751505
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021505Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL TORONTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2951
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0182
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0001
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0001
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0001
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TORONTO 000239

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SCUL KISL PK CA

SUBJECT: Toronto Diaspora Series: An Influential Pakistani-Canadian
Community

REF: (A) Toronto 93 (B) Toronto 200

TORONTO 00000239 001.2 OF 002


1. (U) SUMMARY: In a reception held in his honor, the new Pakistani
CG in Toronto praised Toronto's Pakistani community and the
important role it has played in promoting trade with Canada and
development in Pakistan. The Canadian Pakistani Business Council
(CPBC), the organization that hosted the event, has spent more than
20 years engaging Canadian politicians and leaders to deepen ties
with Pakistan. In the past decade, the Council has led a number of
trade missions to Pakistan, and in 2007, facilitated the signing of
a cooperation agreement between the province of Ontario and the
Pakistani province of Punjab. The CPBC has contributed to the
Pakistani diaspora's success and influence in Canada. END SUMMARY.


-------------------------------------------
Praise for the Pakistani-Canadian Community
-------------------------------------------

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

2. (U) On September 24, the Canadian Pakistani Business Council
(CPBC) held a welcome reception for the new Pakistani Consul
General, Sahebzada A. Khan, who had arrived in Toronto in August.
The CPBC reception provided an opportunity for Mr. Khan to meet with
local business leaders and politicians, including Liberal Canadian
MP Jim Karygiannis, who was among the evening's special guests. In
his remarks to the audience, Mr. Khan noted the Pakistani-Canadian
community's influence and praised CPBC for the important role it has
played in promoting trade and economic growth in Pakistan through
events such as the one that evening.

----------------------------------
An Influential Pakistani-Canadian Organization
----------------------------------

3. (U) The Canadian Pakistani Business Council (CPBC) serves as a
de-facto chamber of commerce promoting trade between Canada and
Pakistan. The CBPC was founded in Montreal in 1983 by Pakistani
immigrants, and in 1996 it moved its headquarters to Toronto, which
is home to 75 per cent (76,000) of Canada's total Pakistani
immigrant population. Through its many events, the CPBC brings
together Canadian officials and business leaders with visiting
Pakistani officials, to promote investment opportunities in
Pakistan, ranging from oil refineries to five-star hotels. CPBC has
relationships with both government entities and business groups,
including the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Export
Development Canada, and has signed a MoU with the Canadian
Manufacturers and Exporters to promote bilateral trade between
Canada and Pakistan.

4. (U) In the past decade, the CPBC has organized a number of trade
missions to Pakistan. Most recently, in 2007, Ontario Premier
Dalton McGuinty, accompanied by Ontario's first Pakistani-Canadian
Member of Provincial Parliament, Dr. Shafiq Qaadri, traveled to
Pakistan and signed a joint statement with Punjab province. The
statement declared the two provinces' intention to "enhance,
exchange and expand cooperation."

5. (U) Despite these efforts, trade between Pakistan and Canada
remains quite small. In 2008, Pakistani imports and exports as a
percentage of the Canadian total equaled 0.06% and .12%,
respectively. Traditionally, the largest export industries from
Pakistan have been textiles and clothing. However, in his remarks
Pakistani CG Khan spoke of his government's goal of dramatically
increasing trade between Canada and Pakistan. He asked for CPBC's
help to steer investment towards new areas, including technology and
infrastructure.

6. (U) Comment: The CPBC has been actively building partnerships
and relationships with both Canadian and Pakistani politicians over
the years to create opportunities for Pakistani-Canadian businesses,
while also focusing on its stated goal of improving conditions in
Pakistan. The Council is just one of many Canadian-Pakistani
organizations that has facilitated the diaspora's integration and
influence in Canada. A wealth of networks and organizations has
made Pakistani-Canadians one of the more successful immigrant groups
in Canada.

7. (U) Comment Continued: While the older generation of
Pakistani-Canadians has felt an impetus to employ their connections
for the benefit of their home country, the next generation of
Pakistani-Canadians (born in Canada) may not feel as strong a fealty
to their ancestral home. Younger Pakistani-Canadians do feel
cultural ties to Pakistan however; they have an equally strong
cultural connection to Canada, and their day to day concerns and

TORONTO 00000239 002.2 OF 002


attention center on their lives in Canada.

JOHNSON

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.