Sir Anwar Pervez’s birthday celebrated by Their Majesties

LONDON: British Pakistani billionaire and philanthropist Sir Anwar Pervez was honoured to be invited to join Their Majesties for tea at the Royal Box at the Royal Ascot Races. The invitation to join their gracious Majesties was part of Sir Anwar’s 90th Birthday celebrations. By honouring Sir Anwar on his 90th birthday The King has shown his deep appreciation of the significant contribution that the founder of Bestway has made to the British society over his 60-year career.

Sir Anwar immigrated from Pakistan to the UK in 1956, having worked in various jobs in Bradford, he then moved to London and set up his first retail store in 1963; he founded Bestway in 1976.

Sir Anwar through his business and charitable endeavours has a long history of encouraging entrepreneurship and furthering dynamism specially within marginalised communities of the country.

Earlier, both current and former members of Parliament came together to celebrate the life of Sir Anwar Pervez, OBE H Pk as part of his 90th birthday celebrations.

Former ministers Tom Tugendhat MP MBE VR and Lord Maude thanked Sir Anwar for his considerable contribution to British society and how he is a living embodiment of everything that is good in British society.

Sir Brandon Lewis, former Lord Chancellor, shared with the audience how Sir Anwar and Bestway’s helped his family’s small business grow and thrive throughout the 1980s -- as an example of entrepreneur’s support for independent businesses throughout his career.

Both Lord Maude and Sir Brandon shared their experiences of visits to Pakistan that Sir Anwar had organised for them as chairs of the Conservative Party.

The High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK Dr Mohammad Faisal and the Lord Khan of Burnley Minister for Faith, highlighted Sir Anwar’s significant contribution to enhancing bilateral relations between the UK and Pakistan.

Lord Choudrey CBE SI Pk who hosted the event touched upon Sir Anwar’s remarkable life story from humble beginnings from a remote village in rural Pakistan to immigrating to the UK aged 21 in 1956.

The Bestway Foundation -- the Charitable Trust Sir Anwar founded in 1987 has had a long association of working with Royal Charities -- the British Asian Trust; the Duke of Edinburgh Awards; Pakistan Recovery Fund and the Princes Trust.

To date Bestway Foundation has donated over £44.0 million to charitable causes, schools, universities and hospitals in the UK. The cross-party event organised at the historic Churchill Room of the House of Commons was also attended by Nigel Huddleston MP Co-Chair of the Conservative Party; Labour Member of Parliament Afzal Khan CBE; Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Qurban Hussain; former Foreign Office Minister Lord Tariq Ahmed; Lord Dolar Popat & Lord Philip Smith amongst others.