Guest Post by Reza Bloomer, APF Leadership Council

I’m half Pakistani and half American, but I spent the first eighteen years of my life living in Thailand and Japan. Growing up as a citizen of the world had its upsides, but I’d be lying if I said my nomadic upbringing did not lead to some level of confusion about belonging and identity.

That being said, I’ve been traveling to Pakistan for as long as I can remember. The biennial trips to see family in Lahore and Karachi are one of few consistent throughlines in my life. I can think of very few places where the sights, sounds, and smells are as familiar and evocative. The thought of losing these memories or allowing my connections to abate wrenches my heart. 

On the other hand, the thought of leaving the United States after ten years to live in Pakistan had never crossed my mind. But then one day, it did.

A Bike Ride Across North America

Five years after college, well into my career and a comfortable life in the Bay Area in the United States, I had a yearning for something which I couldn’t quite place my finger on. So I did what any sensible person would do: I put all my belongings in storage and ventured across North America on a bicycle.

The journey from coast to coast took roughly ninety days. Starting in Astoria, Oregon and ending in Boston, Massachusetts, I passed through a total of fourteen American states and Canadian provinces, discovering an astounding diversity in landscape, people, paths, and experiences. While the journey was tediously regimented and physically challenging, I felt mentally and emotionally liberated. 

The days were void of the usual distractions and responsibilities and left plenty of time for thoughts to drift. This allowed me to let go of deep-rooted expectations about my life and brought a newfound level of presence and heightened sense of awareness. Over the course of the trip, I connected with my inner identity, began to understand the importance of belonging, and came to realize how much I wanted to deepen my relationship with Pakistan. 

I was eager to connect with my roots and aspired to establish a community in Pakistan beyond my family. Growing up with the customs of culture was not enough; I wanted to feel part of it. Fortunately, I received support from friends, family, and new acquaintances who encouraged me, reaffirming my resolve to turn the idea into reality.

A Welcoming Pakistan

In January and February this year, I explored the feasibility of moving to Pakistan and finding the right work opportunity there. I reached out to dozens of startup founders, investors, public sector stakeholders, and others. Their receptivity and feedback encouraged me, revealing the professional community’s unified goal to transform Pakistan into a digitally progressive and financially inclusive nation, made possible through technological advancements and innovations to traditional business models.

As it turned out, not only was I welcome, I was needed. Pakistan’s innovation economy is at an inflection point, but its success is incumbent on individuals like me - members of a global Pakistani diaspora who can invest resources and attention towards the country’s untapped and underserved market.

In March, the world shut down after the coronavirus transformed into a global public health emergency. It was just two weeks before I was to move to Lahore and begin working at Airlift, an app-based startup decentralizing urban mass transit. COVID-19 lockdowns extended to Pakistan.

Contribute from Afar

With my plans derailed, the time in lockdown taught me to explore alternative ways of channeling my motivations and responding to my ambitions. Since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to stay close to Pakistan and contribute in various capacities from afar. 

I spearheaded a fundraising initiative with California-based nonprofit SHINE Humanity which focuses on improving healthcare in Pakistan. Our efforts led to the procurement of 300,000 surgical masks and 10,000 personal protective equipment kits in less than one month.

I joined the American Pakistan Foundation Leadership Council, which has provided me with a forum for bridging the gap between the two countries I identify most with. I’ve enjoyed connecting and partnering with impressive and like-minded Pakistani-Americans who are open to exploring new ideas and pursuing projects such as mentorship programs and entrepreneurial grant programs focused on building bridges between the United States and Pakistan. 

Most recently, I joined as a Strategic Advisor for the Pakistan-based startup, Dastgyr, which aims to disrupt and democratize business-to-business commerce by connecting small retailers directly with suppliers and manufacturers. Many of the two million small and informal retailers in Pakistan face obstacles due to the fragmented marketplace, high costs of wholesale procurement, and inefficiencies associated with transportation and logistics. The founders and I share a passion for optimizing complex systems and re-engineering inequitable supply chains. 

Changing Course

These are just a few of the examples of why this year has been one of reckoning for me. After evaluating what was important to me, I found it within myself to make a major decision that would have altered the trajectory of my life and career. I know many of you reading this will have been similarly affected by the pandemic. Remember, in today’s interconnected world, it is possible to insert yourself and add value from anywhere. I managed to change course while fulfilling the same root impulses and aspirations, just in different ways.

Until I am able to visit Pakistan again, I will aim to learn and understand as much as I can about my motherland from wherever I am in the world. And as I read books about Pakistan and study Urdu from my home in California, I will continue to partner with inspiring organizations and people that share my values and belief in Pakistan’s potential.