British Pakistanis, winning Awards from Queen, are role Models: Maleeha
Pakistan Times Staff Report

LONDON (UK): The British Pakistanis who received the coveted awards from the Queen, in recognition of their services to the community are role models for it, said Islamabad's envoy to London Dr Maleeha Lodhi.

"We salute you. We look forward to you as role models and as distinguished people because you have all made your mark against very heavy odds," Maleeha told a reception she hosted at Pakistan High Commission here late Wednesday in honour of 20 British Pakistanis who received the CBE and OBE awards during this and last year.

MEB and OBE Awards

MEB and OBE awards are annually given by Queen Elizabeth to people who achieve distinction in serving the community in different fields of life in multi-cultural British society. The British Pakistanis winning the awards played an important role in services to the police, community, British Armed Forces, homeless people, business and education.

Those present on the occasion were Lord Nazir Ahmed, MP Khalid Mehmood, Mohammad Tarique Ghaffur Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Police Service, military and civil officials and a large number of community members.

Maleeha said she was so delighted to see many British Pakistanis achieving the distinction and their honour was a tribute to the entire community.

"Your success is the success of the entire community," said the envoy who has strengthened her interaction with the community through her outreach programme.

Lord Nazir Ahmed Congratulates

Lord Nazir Ahmed, speaking on the occasion extended heartiest congratulations to the winners of the awards and thanked Dr. Maleeh for recognizing the contribution of British Pakistanis.

Overseas Pakistanis in the United Kingdom have excelled and were making a great contribution in British GDP while 25 per of them were self-employed. He said it were they who made `Tikka- Masala' a British national dish.

Of the Lord Mayors

Lord Ahmed said 10 British Pakistanis were elected Lord Mayors and Deputy Mayors in this year alone which indicated they were making their place.

MP Khalid Mehmood

Labour MP Khalid Mehmood in his remarks said British Pakistanis had been honoured to serve as the unofficial ambassadors of the country of their origin by recognizing their significant role in the British society.

Secondly the fact that many women had won awards from the Queen must make the community realize of the latent talent in them homes. Khalid urged the community to harness this talent and educate their women. He expressed his thanks to Dr. Maleeha for recognizing the role of the overseas Pakistanis in the UK.

Political Minister PHC Abdul Basit

Political Minister Pakistan High Commission Abdul Basit read out the names of those awarded the awards and a few of them made brief remarks on the occasion.

AC Metropolitan Police

In his brief remarks Tarique Ghaffur Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Police Service the CBE was important in many respects for the community, family and friends.

He hoped that under the Memorandum of Understanding, inked between Metropolitan Police and National Police Burea, last month, the two sides would learn from each other's experience.

Ghaffur said his job was to check the serious and organized crime which was a great challenge.

Winner Risaluddin

Risaluddin who got the award last year for portraying the true face of Islam advised the community to set a practical example to remove the misperceptions about their faith.

Adeeba Malik, MBE

Adeeba Malik, MBE, urged the overseas Pakistanis to return to their country to contribute to its development by using their skills and knowledge they learnt from here.

Nosheena Mubarik, OBE

Nosheena Mubarik, OBE, was awarded the award for her services in business and computer technologies urged the expatriates to play an active role and earn their name in the British society.

Mrs Jamila Qureshi, the first Road Safety Asian Officer

Mrs.Jamila Qureshi who was also the first Road Safety Asian officer said she helped the helpless people who did not have the confidence to do things on their own. She dispelled the impression that Muslims women were suppressed by opening the gates of education to them.

Ali Ahmed Syed, MBE

Ali Ahmed Syed, MBE who helped the people by setting up various charities thanked the High Commissioner for her reception as it would help them to renew their relations with country of their origin. Syed said expatriates should never forget the country of their origin.

The Recipients of Awards

Those who got the CBE and OBE awards from the Queen this and last year included Mohammad Tarique Ghafur Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Police Service, Dr. Khalid Hameed Chief Executive Cromwell Hospital London, Ms. Rubina Shamim Crawley Kashmiris Women's Welfare Association, Muhammad Jehangir Chaudhry, Dr. Nazir Ahmed Chaudhry Vice Chairman Scottish Pakistan Association, Ali Ahmed Syed Glasgow, Farzand Ali Khan Newsone Huddersfiled, Mohammad Zaryab Khan for services in Royal Air Force Armed Forces Courses Office, Ashiq Hussain for services to the community in Derby, Zulfikhar Ali Mulak for services to the homeless people in Hackney Borough of London, Mohammad Issa for serving race equality in Scotland, Jawaid Khaliq for serving the field of boxing in Meadows Nottingham, Mrs. Amtul Salman Khan Chairman Al- Nisa Association, Ms Adeeba Malik for serving community relations and to business in Bradford, Nasim Mohammad Miskin, Mrs. Jamila Qureshi for serving Asian community in Coventry, Mrs. Nighat Bano Awan for serving to charity and food export, Mrs. Nosheena Mubarik Glasgow, Afzal Iqbal Community and Race Relations Officer and Mrs. Bushra Nasir for services to education.●