The humanitarian and philanthropic services of the US-based entrepreneur of Pakistan-origin, Rahim Shah Akhunkhail have been recognized by the House of Representative of the State of Georgia which paid rich tributes to the Akhunkhail Family for valuable contributions to the society and passed a resolution wishing him and his family the best of health and happiness.
In a resolution passed unanimously, the House of Representatives of the State of Georgia acknowledged Rahim Shah Akhunkhail for doing valuable work in the US and abroad in “religious freedom, universal justice, human rights, racial equality, equal economic opportunities, voting rights, and an anti-Islamophobia narrative.”
The House particularly mentioned Rahim Shah Akhunkhail’s great grandfather Akhun Ilyas Baba (1620-1676) who “at the age of 14 walked for two months from Dir (Pakistan) to New Delhi (India) around 880-km for higher education gaining the support of locals of Dir and becoming their spiritual leader, teacher and social justice promoter.”
The resolution also acknowledges that the Akhunkhail Family has produced many competent educators, politicians, activists and entrepreneurs, philanthropists and many fine officers in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government of Pakistan.
Mr Rahim Shah Akhunkhail, the resolution says has been “practicing and promoting the values of Akhun Ilyas Baba” and is an “activist, philanthropist, entrepreneur and community engager and has been instrumental in a bilateral and mutually-beneficial relationship between his homeland the United States and his Motherland Pakistan.”
The resolution moves on to say that Mr Akhunkhail’s philanthropic work continues to help deserving people and charitable organizations in the United States, Pakistan and other countries in education, self-sustenance programmes, and social justices. He also led an advocacy group, “Voices of Muslims,” encouraging the Muslims and others to exercise their constitutional right to vote. According to the resolution, Rahim Shah Akhunkhail supported many political candidates in the US and Pakistan at the city, county, state, and federal level who believe in a better quality of life for everyone, religious freedom, universal justice and human rights, racial equality, equal economic opportunities, voting rights, and an anti-Islamophobia narrative.
Mentor to many youths and encouraging them to become productive and contributing members of society, Rahim Shah Akhunkhail continues the mission of his great grandfather, says the resolution adding, by spreading knowledge and encouraging education, building schoolrooms in Dir [KP, Pakistan), and establishing scholarships at multiple educational institutions in the United States and Pakistan. He is moving from traditional philanthropy to enabling philanthropy, promoting infrastructure development in Dir by lobbying political powers, and taking legal actions in Peshawar High Court against the injustice to people of Dir, said the resolution.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved that Rahim Shah Akhunkhail and his family are recognized and commended for their dedication to the betterment of Georgia, the United States and Pakistan as well as extended a sincere best wishes for the future health and happiness,” the resolution concludes.
It may be mentioned here that a similar resolution was passed by Georgia Senate last year. So now both Georgia House and Senate archives will have these resolutions safe for the future generations.
Mr Rahim Shah Akhunkhail immigrated to Pakistan back in 1982 and completed his higher education at Southern Illinois University at Edwards Ville, United States.
He worked for over 19 years in corporate America primarily in management consulting serving fortune 100 companies such as IBM, AT&T, Cisco, Citi Bank, HP, and Verizon. He also won JD Power & Associates and top 100 CIO Master of customer satisfaction awards.
Mr Akhunkhail while commenting on the resolution expressed his gratitude to the members of the House for acknowledging his efforts. “The best part of all was Gregg Kennard, our state representative, brought the resolution to my house and presented it,” he said appreciating his long-time friend’s kind gesture.
