SR 101 — Commending M. Siddique Sheikh.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24107858D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

101 OfferedE February 28, 2024 N Commending M.

TN ––––––––––R Patrons––CarrollAgreed Foy,to Boysko,by McPike,the RoemSenate, andFebruary Surovell29, R2024 WHEREAS, M.

Siddique Sheikh of Occoquan is an esteemed businessman who has used his success O to empower and uplift his fellow members of the Pakistani American community while enhancing the L quality of life for all residents of Northern Virginia;

and DL WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh grew up in Pakistan and immigrated to the United States in 1969;

heUhe has since become an engaged member of the Northern Virginia community, a champion for business in E theWHEREAS, as the region,founder andof awhat staunchis advocatenow forthe United States Pakistan International Chamber of D Commerce (USPICC), Siddique Sheikh has represented Pakistani Americans;American entrepreneurs and promoted business cooperation between the United States and Pakistan as chair, president, and executive director of the organization;

and C WHEREAS, as the founder of what is now the United States Pakistan International Chamber of E 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 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;

andandmonies at the Nasdaq stock exchange twice, both times to WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh maintains a wide range of other business interests and has hosted S multiple career fairs and trade shows throughout Northern Virginia;

he previously held several leadershipleadersh1p positions with BB&T Bank, which merged with SunTrust Banks to form Truist Bank, where he 1 continues to offer his wise counsel;

and SR WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh has served as a member of the Northern Virginia Community College 1 Board of Visitors and as a member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors, through whi1hwhich 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;

andNUST) and the University of Karachi, creating myriad new opportunities for 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;

andandhen appointed by 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 34 WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh serves as the chair of the Chief's Council on Diversity of the Fairfax 35community Countymembers; Police Department, which builds trust and understanding between law-enforcement officers and 37 comWHEREAS, a practicing Muslim, Siddique Sheikh has supported the development of various 38 mosques throughout the Commonwealth, while also promoting interfaith cooperation and supporting 39 linkages between multicultural communities;

andnt, which builds trust and understanding between law-enforcement officers and WHEREAS, a practicing Muslim, Siddique Sheikh ishas asupported foundingthe memberdevelopment of thevarious Muslimmosques Communitythroughout Centerthe inCommonwealth, Maryland,while whichalso offerspromoting freeinterfaith medicalcooperation servicesand tosupporting Muslimslinkages throughoutbetween themulticultural Washington,communities; D.C.

area, and WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh is a founding member of the Muslim Community Center in Maryland, member of the Islamic Circle of North America Sunday School program that also serves families in the region;

after the attacks on September 11, 2001, he meetingsadvocated withon behalf of Pakistani Americans to dispel misinformation and led several delegations in meeWHEREAS, in 2004, Siddique Sheikh organized a USPICC convention in Islamabad, Pakistan, which was attended by the U.S.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;

Departmentand WHEREAS, Siddique Sheikh was previously appointed by the prime minister to serve on the board of State;the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, and in 2006, he was one of only three individuals in the United StaRESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That M.

andispel misinformation and led several delegations in WHEREAS, in 2004, Siddique Sheikh organizedhereby abe USPICCcommended conventionfor inhis Islamabad,it Pakistan,accomplishments whichas wasan attendedentrepreneur bywho thehas nation'sachieved primesuccess ministerin anda ledwide torange the signing of ninebusinesses memorandaand oftouched understandingcountless betweenlives officialsas froma thegenerous Unitedcommunity States,leader; the United Kingdom, and Germany;

andand, WHEREAS,be Siddiqueit SheikhRESOLVED wasFURTHER, previouslyThat appointed by the primeClerk minister to serve on the board of the OverseasSenate Pakistanisprepare Foundation,a andcopy in 2006, he was one of onlythis threeresolution individualsfor inpresentation the United States to beM. nominated for the prestigious President of Pakistan Award;

now,Siddique therefore,Sheikh beas itan RESOLVEDexpression byof the Senate of Virginia,Virginia's Thatadmiration M.for his growing legacy of personal and professional achievements.

Siddique Sheikh hereby be commended for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur who has achieved success in a wide range of businesses and touRESOLVED 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 SR101 2 of 2 growing legacy of personal and professional achievements.