Chicago – August 15, 2026
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined Pakistani New Yorkers at the Allama Iqbal Community Center’s annual Pakistan Day Mela in Brooklyn, marking Pakistan’s Independence Day and celebrating the community’s cultural heritage.
The event, held on August 9, brought residents together for cultural performances, community activities and celebrations of Pakistani-American identity. In remarks delivered at the mela, Mamdani thanked community leaders and organizers, including Allama Iqbal Community Center chairman Muhammad Nasir Awan and Youth Wing director Hussan Nasir Awan.nyc
Mamdani said Pakistani New Yorkers had helped shape the city through their “open arms, determination, and dreams for a better life.” He also recognized their contributions to public service, small business, healthcare and civic advocacy.
The mayor later shared photographs and remarks on his social-media accounts, describing the gathering as an opportunity to honor Pakistani New Yorkers and their role in the city’s development.thecurrent+1
The Brooklyn mela has become an important annual occasion for the Pakistani diaspora, combining national pride with cultural expression and community engagement. Mamdani’s appearance underscored the city government’s outreach to one of New York’s growing South Asian communities.
