ALBANY, NEW YORK, Friday, November 7, 2025 (WNP): Newly elected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani paid a moving tribute to Pakistan and its people, recalling his deep admiration for the country’s culture, resilience, and poetic spirit during an address in Albany.

Sharing personal reflections on his multicultural heritage, Mamdani said, “I was born and raised in Uganda, East Africa. My mother hails from the Indian state of Punjab. I’ve had the privilege of visiting Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad—and today, witnessing the same energy, vibrancy, and warmth here in Albany fills me with immense joy.”

He emphasized the importance of allowing Pakistanis to define their own narrative, saying, “For too long, Pakistan’s story has been told through the lens of others. The time has come for Pakistanis to tell their own story, one that reflects their humanity, struggles, and spirit.”

Expressing solidarity with the Pakistani-American community, Mamdani pledged to listen and learn from their experiences. “I stand here today to understand what it truly means to be Pakistani and Pakistani-American in this moment of history,” he noted.

Reflecting on the global challenges of compassion and justice, the Mayor urged the audience to remain steadfast in their moral duty. “In times when human empathy is under attack, we must reflect on our roles and responsibilities,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Mamdani invoked the timeless words of Pakistan’s revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, reciting lines from his celebrated poem Bol (Speak) — a call for courage and truth in the face of oppression:

Bol ke lab azad hain tere,
Bol zubaan ab tak teri hai,
Tera sutwan jism hai tera,
Bol ke jaan ab tak teri hai.

“Let these words live in your heart,” Mamdani said, “a reminder that even in power, we must never stop speaking truth.”