Westside BID joined with other top businesses and politicians in welcoming Pakistan’s high commissioner to Birmingham.
Moazzam Ahmad Khan was visiting the city to find out more about the local community and to explore areas of possible cooperation between Pakistan and the UK.
He held detailed meetings with Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, along with Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Perry Barr, and Andy Street, the elected mayor of the West Midlands.
Mr Khan also met Cllr Waseem Zaffar, the cabinet member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, who also serves as a Westside BID director, the city’s Lord Mayor Cllr Muhammad Afzal and other city councillors with Pakistani heritage.
Business leaders from Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Birmingham City University were also at the meeting.
Mr Olley said: “It was a great opportunity to meet Pakistan’s high commissioner to talk about business improvement districts, whose activities he was quick to support.
“We spoke about the large numbers of Birmingham’s population with Pakistani heritage, and about the disputed territory of Kashmir, when I asked him about the role of China in this matter.
“We also discussed the importance of forming firmer business relations between Britain and Pakistan, along with other Commonwealth nations, on the back of Britain’s decision to leave Europe.
“Indeed, Mr Khan said that he felt that Birmingham’s commitment to the Commonwealth was exemplified by embracing the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.”
Mr Olley added: “At the end of our meeting, Mr Khan suggested a business visit from a group of us to Pakistan would be welcomed, and I’d be keen to explore this.”
The high commissioner’s visit to Birmingham was reported in the Daily Times of Pakistan, and this can be read here: https://dailytimes.com.pk/779941/envoy-reaches-out-to-community-discusses-multifaceted-cooperation-with-uk/
By Steve Dyson
