Mr Zameer Choudrey, CBE, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Chief Executive Bestway Group has been appointed to the House of Lords by Her Majesty the Queen, in recognition of his contributions to Britain’s domestic and foreign trade, his philanthropic work both in the UK and abroad, and his role as Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Pakistan.
Sir Anwar Pervez, OBE, Hilal-e-Pakistan, Chairman Bestway Group, recently hosted a dinner in Islamabad to celebrate this honour. His Excellency, Dr Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was the Chief Guest and the dinner was attended by the cream of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry; ministers and members of Parliament and senior government officials.
Dr Arif Alvi described the appointment of Zameer Choudrey as a proud moment for all Pakistanis. He congratulated Lord Choudrey on his achievement and paid glowing tributes to the accomplishments of Bestway Group, Sir Anwar Pervez and Lord Choudrey.
The British Deputy High Commissioner Mike Nithavrianakis said that Bestway Group represents the very best of both Pakistan and Britain. He also said that the Group with its businesses across Britain and Pakistan acts as bridge between the two countries.
In the last two decades Lord Choudrey has regularly been asked to facilitate bilateral visits of both Pakistani and British senior government officials, including the Mayors of London and the West Midlands, and private investors, to discuss how both UK and Pakistan can further deepen their historic commercial ties.
Lord Choudrey’s journey has been very eventful to say the least. He has come a long way from his roots in Thathi, near Gujjar Khan, to the helm of what is now the UK’s 3rd largest business and more importantly the largest overseas investor in Pakistan, which provides employment to over 27,000 people worldwide.
Bestway Group businesses have always given back to communities they operate in. The Group’s two main subsidiaries in Pakistan, United Bank Limited and Bestway Cement Limited, are both playing a pivotal role in job creation, tax generation and the economic development of Pakistan.
Under Lord Choudrey’s dynamic leadership Bestway Cement Limited, which was set up as a greenfield operation has grown to become Pakistan’s largest cement manufacturer. United Bank Limited, which was acquired in 2002 has grown from strength to strength and is today Pakistan’s 2nd largest private bank.
Zameer Choudrey has placed the Bestway Group at the heart of the community; this has led to the creation of employment opportunities and empowered local communities.
The Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility endeavours have led to investments of more than US$25 million across Pakistan, and more than US$45 million worldwide, in schools, colleges, universities and hospitals.
Thanking the guests, Lord Choudrey said “It is encouraging to see the focus of the current government in galvanising the Pakistani diaspora worldwide. I hope that we can act as an example of what the Pakistani diaspora can achieve abroad as well as be a role model for investing back in our motherland”.
Lord Choudrey also said, “My appointment to the House of Lords is an immense honour for me and I will do my best to live up to everyone’s expectation. UK is a land of opportunity and I shall continue to play my role in articulating the views of the British Pakistani community and to act as a bridge between UK and Pakistan with a special focus on deepening the historic commercial and cultural bonds between our two great nations”.
For all aspirational Pakistanis Lord Zameer Choudrey is a beacon of hope – someone who embodies the values of hard work; selflessness and professionalism.
