Bill Text: VA SR101 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending M. Siddique Sheikh.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-02-29 - Bill text as passed Senate (SR101ER) [SR101 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SR101-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, M. Siddique Sheikh of Occoquan is an esteemed businessman who has used his success to empower and uplift his fellow members of the Pakistani American community while enhancing the quality of life for all residents of Northern Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh grew up in Pakistan and immigrated to the United States in 1969; he has since become an engaged member of the Northern Virginia community, a champion for business in the region, and a staunch advocate for Pakistani Americans; and
WHEREAS, as the founder of what is now the United States Pakistan International Chamber of Commerce (USPICC), Siddique Sheikh has represented Pakistani American entrepreneurs and promoted business cooperation between the United States and Pakistan as chair, president, and executive director of the organization; and
WHEREAS, under Siddique Sheikh's leadership, the USPICC received the rare honor of becoming the only organization to perform bell ceremonies at the Nasdaq stock exchange twice, both times to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh maintains a wide range of other business interests and has hosted multiple career fairs and trade shows throughout Northern Virginia; he previously held several leadership positions with BB&T Bank, which merged with SunTrust Banks to form Truist Bank, where he continues to offer his wise counsel; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh has served as a member of the Northern Virginia Community College Board of Visitors and as a member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors, through which he promotes ties with higher education institutions in Pakistan, including the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and the University of Karachi, creating myriad new opportunities for faculty and students; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh played a role in the establishment of the Virginia Lottery and was appointed by Governor Jim Gilmore to serve on the Virginia Lottery Commission, then appointed by Governor Tim Kaine to serve on the Transportation Accountability Commission; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh has volunteered his wise leadership to support the Muslim community in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area and has promoted a strong sense of community spirit among Pakistani Americans in the region; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh serves as the chair of the Chief's Council on Diversity of the Fairfax County Police Department, which builds trust and understanding between law-enforcement officers and community members; and
WHEREAS, a practicing Muslim, Siddique Sheikh has supported the development of various mosques throughout the Commonwealth, while also promoting interfaith cooperation and supporting linkages between multicultural communities; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh is a founding member of the Muslim Community Center in Maryland, which offers free medical services to Muslims throughout the Washington, D.C. area, and a founding member of the Islamic Circle of North America Sunday School program that also serves families in the region; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh has also been a prominent leader at the international level, facilitating diplomacy between the United States and Pakistan; after the attacks on September 11, 2001, he advocated on behalf of Pakistani Americans to dispel misinformation and led several delegations in meetings with the U.S. Department of State; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, Siddique Sheikh organized a USPICC convention in Islamabad, Pakistan, which was attended by the nation's prime minister and led to the signing of nine memoranda of understanding between officials from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany; and
WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh was previously appointed by the prime minister to serve on the board of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, and in 2006, he was one of only three individuals in the United States to be nominated for the prestigious President of Pakistan Award; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That M. Siddique Sheikh hereby be commended for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur who has achieved success in a wide range of businesses and touched countless lives as a generous community leader; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to M. Siddique Sheikh as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for his growing legacy of personal and professional achievements.
