LONDON, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 9th Aug, 2026) Pakistan’s newly appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman, has praised leading British-Pakistani entrepreneur Tariq Sheikh for his contribution to the British economy, describing the success of Tariq Halal Meats as an example of the positive impact Pakistanis have made across the United Kingdom.
The High Commissioner, who assumed charge in London around two weeks ago, made the remarks during a meeting with Tariq Sheikh, founder and chairman of Tariq Halal Meats, at the Pakistan High Commission.
Usman congratulated Sheikh on recently receiving the Freedom of the City of London, recognising his contribution to Britain’s halal meat industry, entrepreneurship, employment and community service.
The High Commissioner said Sheikh’s journey represented an important British-Pakistani success story and demonstrated how members of the Pakistani diaspora had contributed to the economic and social development of the United Kingdom.
He said that while negative stories involving some British Pakistanis often received considerable attention, the enormous contribution made by successful Pakistanis across Britain was frequently overlooked. He noted that British Pakistanis were making significant contributions in business, education, medicine, law, technology, public service and numerous other sectors, creating employment and contributing billions of Pounds to the British economy.
The High Commissioner described Tariq Sheikh as a visionary entrepreneur who had helped transform and modernise Britain’s halal meat industry, taking the sector beyond the traditional butcher-shop model and introducing modern retail standards, professional presentation, quality control and customer service.
He said Sheikh’s achievements were a source of pride for Pakistan and reflected the entrepreneurial potential of the Pakistani diaspora.
Tariq Sheikh was born in Pakistan in October 1961 and moved to Britain with his family at the age of seven. He entered the fast-food industry at 17, becoming a store manager within months and, by the age of 19, supervising several outlets as an area manager.
The foundations of the family’s halal meat business were laid by Sheikh’s father through a small operation in Southall, West London, in the 1960s – now operating more than 40 stores across the UK. The business employs thousands of people and has also provided employment opportunities for skilled workers from Pakistan.
Sheikh told the High Commissioner that his company’s connection with Pakistan went beyond his personal heritage and that he wanted to significantly expand commercial links with the country. He said Tariq Halal Meats already imports rice and other food products and commodities associated with its meat business from Pakistan and intends to increase imports in the coming period.
Sheikh said increasing purchases from Pakistan would allow his company to support Pakistani producers and exporters while contributing to the country’s economy and strengthening trade links between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. He also informed the High Commissioner about plans to launch projects and investments in Pakistan as part of the company’s future expansion and said he looked forward to working closely with the Pakistan High Commission.
His business and philanthropic career has received several honours. He was named Businessman of the Year at the British Muslim Awards in 2016. In 2024, he received an honorary doctorate during the Leaders in London Summit and was presented with the Avicenna Medal at the House of Lords.
In November 2025, Sheikh received the Freedom of the City of London, recognising his contribution to the halal industry, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Speaking after his meeting with the High Commissioner, Sheikh said he remained proud of his Pakistani roots and wanted to use the continued growth of Tariq Halal Meats to strengthen economic links between Britain and Pakistan.
He said the company’s next phase would involve not only expanding its retail presence across Britain but also increasing sourcing from Pakistan and developing new projects there, creating further opportunities for trade, investment and employment.
