My name is Mashhood Qazi, and I am running for the position of President of our beloved organization, the Sindhi Association of North America (SANA).

Born and raised in Diplo, a small town in District Thar, I completed my early education at Primary School Diplo and my intermediate at Cadet College Petaro. I graduated in Computer Systems from Mehran University Jamshoro and later pursued an MBA and Ph.D. from USA. I am also a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), PRINCE2 Registered Practitioner, and Certified in Prosci Change Management Process.

Since arriving in Toronto, Canada, in 1997, I have had the honor of being deeply involved with SANA. I served as President of the Greater Toronto Area Chapter (2003-2004) and later as Regional Secretary for Canada (2005-2006). More recently, I was President of the Southern Alberta Chapter (2017). With the help of my executive team members and the community, I introduced the Sindhi language and culture to other Canadian organizations, communities, and legislators by organizing numerous cultural and community events. I also participated in official events and represented the Sindhi community across various socio-cultural platforms. Throughout, I remained involved in initiatives promoting professional development and assisting newcomers with settlement in Canada, while supporting projects aiding less-privileged people in Sindh.

I have over 25 years of leadership and management experience in business, technology, and philanthropy, and have worked with Provincial and Municipal governments in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. I currently serve as a Senator with the University of Lethbridge in Alberta and have been a member of the Technology Advisory Council with the Government of Alberta. My prior roles include serving as a Member of the Government of Sindh's Information Technology Advisory Board and Consultant with the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh.

As a community activist, I have worked with numerous non-profit organizations, including the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), Canadian Muslims for Peace and Justice (CMPJ), and Teach A Kid Make Individual Life (TAKMIL) Canada. Through these organizations, I have been involved in projects that benefit not only Sindh but also countries like Bangladesh, Somalia, Ethiopia, Iran, India, and Afghanistan. As part of the Indus Canada Foundation, I have led initiatives promoting our rich Indus Valley culture and advocating for cultural diversity. In addition, we have organized seminars and workshops addressing critical social issues such as women’s empowerment, domestic violence, mental health, seniors’ abuse, and substance abuse among youth.

In my efforts to promote Sindhi language and culture, I was honored to lead a delegation of Southern Alberta Sindhi community leaders to the Alberta Legislative Assembly, where we were recognized on the floor of the house by a Member of the Alberta legislature. Additionally, I was invited to the Sindh Assembly, where the Speaker formally acknowledged our efforts to promote Sindhi culture in Canada. I am also proud to say that our collective effort in Calgary led to Alberta becoming the first province in the world to officially recognize Sindhi Culture Day, Province of Alberta Transportation has accepted Sindhi language as one of the regional languages in which Class7 Drivers written test can be conducted, and The City of Calgary and Police Services have started listing Sindhi as a regional language in Alberta and have produced public messages in Sindhi especially during Covid time.

I have authored a book titled “Census and Sindh,” which addresses census-related issues in Sindh and offers recommendations to civil society activists, government officials, and political parties to ensure true representation. Currently, I am working on a book focusing on the pressing social issues impacting Sindh.

In an effort to empower the underprivileged people of Sindh, I worked with the Indus Canada Foundation to provide sewing machines to widows, handcarts to deserving youth, and tuc shops and tire shops to families in District Badin and Thar. We have also provided medical equipment to hospitals in Sindh, installed solar water pumps and hand pumps in various villages, and provided relief during the 2022 floods with rations, mosquito nets, clothing, and clean water for hundreds of families. Additionally, we have organized seven medical camps offering free checkups and medicine.

I am proud to have sponsored the “Roshni Community School” in District Sanghar, which provides accelerated education to 38 out-of-school children in honor of my late grandfather, father, and mother, who were among the pioneers of girls' education in Thar.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I conducted 25 virtual shows on social media platforms to raise public awareness about the virus. These discussions ranged from health and financial impacts to mental health, resilience strategies, and stress management. I also hosted 12 motivational sessions and virtual cultural festivals to keep spirits high during the tough times.

In addition to this, I am proud to be the first producer and host of the first-ever Sindhi radio program “Sindh Rung” in Calgary, Alberta, where we held weekly discussions about Sindh's social issues with local and international civil society representatives.

In recognition of my social services, I have been honored with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the Alberta Legislative Assembly’s ‘Coat of Arms’ badge, the “Ambassador of Indus Valley Culture” award by the Government of Alberta, and the “O’Canada Horizon” award by the Canadian Times. I have also been recognized as an Honorary Cultural Ambassador by the Government of Sindh's Department of Culture and Tourism and have been nominated for the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province’s highest civil award.

With your support, I hope to continue serving our community as the President of SANA. Together, we can ensure that our culture thrives, our social fabric remains strong, our voice on Sindh issues is strongly heard not only in Pakistan but globally as well, and our community continues to progress. I kindly ask for your vote and support to bring positive change to SANA. Let’s work together to make a lasting impact for future generations.