The street at the Junction of 109th street and 101st Avenue in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of southeastern Queens has been co-named after Pakistan’s national poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal. The street co-naming was inaugurated at a special ceremony organized by American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG), a leading Pakistani Americans’ community organization and local elected officials on Sunday, August 6.
Lead by Ali Rashid, a youthful entrepreneur of Pakistan descent, APAG wants to uplift and empower Pakistani Americans by focusing on civic engagement and raising awareness to ensure equal representation and opportunities.
APAG worked closely with the City Council speaker’s office and Queens-based elected officials to make history by co-naming the street in Richmond Hill. About 47% of Queens population is foreign born, making the most diverse county of the United States. Interestingly, Richmond Hill is a predominantly immigrants neighborhood with a large number of its residents being of India origin. It is the first time in US history that a street has been co-named after the “Poet of East” as Iqbal is known all over the world.
Pakistan’s Vice Consul General in New York Nawab Adil Khan along with several local elected officials, Indian and Pakistani community leaders and a sizable number of community members attended the street’s co-naming ceremony.
“Allama Iqbal Avenue is being named after Mohammad Iqbal who was leading figure on the emancipation and founding of Pakistan,” said Ali Rashid in his remarks. He thanked the elected officials for co-naming the street after Iqbal.
Pakistan’s Vice Consul General Nawab Adil Khan in his remarks praised APAG’s efforts for getting the street co-named after Iqbal and thanked the authorities for approving the landmark decision. He urged the Pakistani American community to continue its efforts to join the mainstream America and also to play its role in strengthening the Pakistan-US relations.
Glimpses of the event
Pakistan American Advocacy Group president Alli Rashid addressing the ceremony. (ViewsWeek photo)
Pakistan's Vice Consul General in New York Nawab Khan was the senior-most Pakistan government official who attended the special ceremony. (PakistanWeek photo)
Allama Iqbal Avenue is the first street in the United States that has been named after Pakistan's national poet. (PakistanWeek photo)