Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said here on Thursday that promotion of female education, particularly of poor girls, had always been close to his heart. He was speaking at a luncheon hosted in his honour by Lord Mayor Micke Nangle of Birmingham Council at City Town Hall here.
Sheikh Rashid said his interest had always been to help poor girls acquire education and that was the reason, he had brought schools close to their homes in Rawalpindi.
It were his efforts during the last 10 years which led to the opening of 45 schools and colleges and the first ever female University there, he added.
Dilating over his political career which elevated him from a councillor to the Federal Minister and a man who returned elected seventh time during the last general elections, he said the best period of his political career was when he was a Councillor.
Explaining, he said it was because he then always moved around and lived among his poor constituents helping them addressing their small grievances, which carried him their respect and support.
Rashid said, he was a self-made man and won support of his constituents by delivering goods at the grassroots level, and added it was a tough job to measure up-to expectations of constituents in the country. But it was not easy either in the UK as well because he had learnt it from two Muslims British MPs Khalid Mehmood and MP Muhammad Sarwar, he added.
The Minister, on the occasion, presented to Lord Mayor Birmingham his autobiography 'Farzand-e-Pakistan' which he wrote in prison. Rashid thanked the Mayor for sparing time to welcome him despite being indisposed.
Speaking on the occasion, British MP Khalid Mehmood said that Birmingham was a hustling city with a large number of British Pakistanis who were playing an important role in its development, adding his efforts as a Councillor led to provision of "Halal" foods in schools here.
Lord Mayor of Birmingham Council Micke Nangle in his welcome address invited the Minister to visit the city during the summer, as there was a lot to see here. He thanked him for visiting the Town Hall and presented him a small gift on the occasion.
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Councillor, John Hemmings in his brief remarks told the Minister that despite being a very diverse city, all communities in Birmingham were living in a peaceful way.
Earlier, Sheikh Rashid was warmly received by Lord Mayor Micke Nangle, British MP Khalid Mehmood, Consul General of Pakistan High Commission Shujjat Rathore, former Lord Mayor and Council), or Khawaja Mehmood Hussain, Councillor Ansar Ali Khan, Matloob Hussain, businessmen from Manchester Saeed Ahmed and others.
During his meeting with Lord Mayor at his office, the Minister exchanged views with him and signed the visitors' book.