Pakistan-origin billionaire appointed to House of Lords

Published September 12, 2019
Prominent British Pakistani businessman Zameer Choudrey this week was included on the honours list of former British prime minister Theresa May, who awarded peerages, knighthoods and other honours to 57 citizens. 
— Photo courtesy bestwaygroup.co.uk
Prominent British Pakistani businessman Zameer Choudrey this week was included on the honours list of former British prime minister Theresa May, who awarded peerages, knighthoods and other honours to 57 citizens. — Photo courtesy bestwaygroup.co.uk

Prominent British Pakistani businessman Zameer Choudrey this week was included on the honours list of former British prime minister Theresa May, who awarded peerages, knighthoods and other honours to 57 citizens.

Ms May’s honours were granted by the Queen at the request of the outgoing prime minister.

In a statement, Mr Choudrey called the award “an immense honour”. “I am truly humbled to have been appointed to the House of Lords. I have always viewed the UK to be the land of opportunity and I look forward to contributing to the continued advancement of our great country,” Mr Choudrey said.

Mr Choudrey is the CEO of Bestway Group, a wholesale empire with a reported turnover of £3.5 billion and a workforce of 34,000. He is also the chairman of Conservative Friends of Pakistan (CFOP), an organisation seeking to build stronger ties between the UK’s Conservative Party with Pakistan and the British Pakistani community.

The Bestway Group owns Bestway Cement Ltd in Pakistan and also has a controlling share in United Bank Limited (UBL).

In the UK, life peers are appointed under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords.

In 2016, Mr Chaudhry was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), by the Queen as part of the Queen’s New Year 2016 Honours List.

The statement, which describes Mr Choudrey as someone with “humble beginnings in a remote village in Pakistan”, also says that the appointment is a recognition of his contributions to Britain’s domestic and foreign trade as well as his philanthropic work. Mr Choudrey and his family hail from Gujar Khan in Rawalpindi.

The statement also adds, “He has also regularly been asked to facilitate private government visits to both Pakistan and the UK for senior government officials from both countries, including the Mayors of London and the West Midlands, and private investors, to discuss how both the UK and Pakistan can look to increase trade and investment.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.