SACRAMENTO, California, August 12, 2026: The California State Senate has unanimously passed a resolution celebrating Pakistan-U.S. relations and recognizing the contribution of Pakistani-Americans to California’s economy, culture and society, according to the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington.
Presented by State Senator Melissa Hurtado, the resolution highlighted the role of the Pakistani-American community across a range of professional and civic fields and called on Californians to celebrate the longstanding friendly relationship between Pakistan and the United States.
The Embassy said the Council of Pakistan, led by Dr. Imran Sharief, also played an important role in efforts supporting the resolution.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh welcomed the move and thanked Senator Hurtado for her leadership, saying Islamabad remained committed to strengthening people-to-people contacts and building on the positive momentum in bilateral relations.
California Assembly Highlights Pakistan Ties
The California State Assembly also highlighted the importance of closer relations between Pakistan and California, particularly in trade, investment and business cooperation, the Embassy said.
Assemblymember Matt Haney recognized the contribution of Pakistani-American businesses and investors and acknowledged Ambassador Sheikh’s efforts to strengthen Pakistan-U.S. relations.
California legislative proceedings on August 10 also show Haney formally welcoming Ambassador Sheikh to the Assembly and describing Pakistan-U.S. ties as a longstanding relationship reflected in California’s Pakistani-American community.
Ambassador Sheikh Meets California Lawmakers
The developments came during Ambassador Sheikh’s official visit to California, where he held meetings with lawmakers aimed at expanding political and economic engagement.
During talks with Senator Eloise Gomez, the Ambassador discussed opportunities to increase trade, investment and broader economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.
According to the Embassy, Senator Gomez also acknowledged Pakistan’s role in regional peace and stability. Ambassador Sheikh invited her to visit Pakistan to further strengthen engagement.
The Pakistani envoy also hosted a working lunch for Assemblymember Matt Haney and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, with discussions focusing on bilateral cooperation and opportunities for deeper engagement across key sectors.
Both lawmakers were invited to visit Pakistan.
Pakistani-American Community Gains Recognition
The Senate resolution places particular emphasis on the growing contribution of Pakistani-Americans to California’s economic and social development.
California lawmakers have previously adopted resolutions recognizing Pakistani-American relations and the community’s role in the state. Legislative text from an earlier Senate resolution similarly called on Californians to celebrate friendly relations between Pakistan and the United States.
The latest diplomatic engagement is being presented by Pakistan as part of broader efforts to expand ties with U.S. states beyond federal-level relations, with trade, investment and people-to-people cooperation emerging as key areas of focus.
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