King Charles confers CBE on British-Pakistani philanthropist

Asif Rangoonwala serves as Vice Chair of the British Asian Trust

LONDON:

King Charles III has conferred the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honour upon British-Pakistani philanthropist and entrepreneur Asif Rangoonwala, who serves as Vice Chair of the British Asian Trust (BAT).

He has been honoured by King Charles III in the 2024 Birthday Honours list for his contributions to charity and philanthropy in the United Kingdom and South Asia, particularly in Pakistan.

Talking to the media, he said, “I am profoundly honoured and humbled by this recognition. I am committed to advancing our mission of fostering a fairer and more compassionate world.” Thanking his colleagues, who helped him over the years, Rangoonwala said, "Public service is a legacy I inherit from my parents as they were devoted to helping others and social causes.

"We are working in several areas in Karachi but our work in the education sector is of phenomenal nature and tens and thousands of under-privileged children are benefitting from our schemes. We plan to increase the scope and nature of our work," he added.

The entrepreneur said that more British-Pakistanis need to be honoured and recognised. He stated, "We are one of the most integrated communities in the UK and we play a vital role in all areas of public life. We will be working to bring out more heroes and role models from our communities," adding, "There are hundreds of Pakistanis in the UK doing a magnificent job and they deserve more recognition."

As a prominent business leader and philanthropist, Rangoonwala has been a driving force in the philanthropic landscape for many years, with a focus on creating positive change within communities both in the UK and South Asia.

Through the Rangoonwala Foundation, he has championed numerous projects aimed at improving the quality of life for disadvantaged individuals in several parts of the world including Pakistan, with a focus on Karachi.

The Foundation's work includes providing scholarships for underprivileged students, funding medical research and facilities and supporting community development programmes.