LONDON: Suleman Raza MBE, a prominent British-Pakistani businessman, restaurateur and philanthropist, has been awarded the prestigious Freedom of the City of London award.
This honor, one of the highest accolades bestowed by the City of London, recognizes Raza’s exceptional contributions to the community and his achievements in business and philanthropy.
Expressing his joy at receiving the award, Raza said: Geo news who had begun her journey with humble tasks such as “scrubbing floors, washing pots, cooking and shopping” when she first arrived in London.
“When I arrived in London at 18, I was welcomed with open arms and offered endless opportunities. My only dream at the time was to own a small restaurant,” he said.
“However, this amazing city, which welcomed me so warmly, offered me a platform to dream bigger, strive harder and achieve more. I ultimately earned the title of Greater London Curry King,” he added. “Inspired by the support I received, I made a commitment to give something back to this amazing nation.”
Raza said he was deeply honoured to have been granted the Freedom of the City of London. He said this ancient tradition, which dates back to 1237, originally allowed citizens to trade freely and has become a symbol of excellence and dedication.
The award ceremony takes place at Guildhall, where recipients are given a parchment document known as The Copy of Liberty.
The Briton has been running the “Nobody Eats Alone on Christmas Day” campaign since 2015, helping homeless people in Croydon, south of London.
Its One Million Meals campaign has served over 300 localities and 47 hospitals across the UK, providing meals to key NHS workers, including frontline medics during the COVID-19 pandemic and vulnerable people.
For this, Raza was previously awarded the Points of Light award by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
He was also appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to business and philanthropy.
