- Bestway founder's birthday celebrated in historic Churchill Room
- Cross-party event brought together politicians of every persuasion
- Sir Anwar felicitated as "living embodiment of everything that is good in British Society"
Current and former members of Parliament came together recently to celebrate the life of Sir Anwar Pervez, OBE H Pk, as part of his 90th Birthday celebrations.
The cross-party event organised at the historic Churchill Room of the House of Commons and hosted by Lord Choudrey CBE SI Pk, was attended by Rt Hon Sir Brandon Lewis, former Lord Chancellor, former ministers Tom Tugendhat MBE VR and Rt Hon the Lord Maude, as well as 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
Guests pay tribute
Guests paid tribute to Sir Anwar’s remarkable life story – from humble beginnings in a remote village in rural Pakistan to immigrating to the UK aged 21 in 1956.
Sir Anwar worked in various jobs in Bradford, before moving to London and setting up his first retail store in 1963, founding Bestway in 1976.
Under Sir Anwar’s visionary leadership Bestway has grown into a diversified multi-billion-pound group, which employs over 47,000 people globally, with leadership positions across the food, pharmaceutical, cement and banking sectors.
Acutely aware of his social responsibilities Sir Anwar set up the Bestway Foundation, which has donated over £44.0 million to charitable causes focused on social mobility as a theme that is very personal to him.
A living embodiment of the good
Former ministers Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP MBE VR and Rt Hon the 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.
Rt Hon 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 entrepreneurs’ 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 Conversative 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 in enhancing bilateral relations between UK and Pakistan.
2025 is an extra special year it marks Bestway Group’s Golden Jubilee as well as Sir Anwar’s 90th birthday.
