Ghulam Rasul Shahzad, JP, is a Training Officer employed by the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, passed his Masters in Islamic Studies in 1971 and LLB in 1974 from the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan and subsequently gained his Diploma in Training Management in 1991from TRACE (UK), Diploma in Business Excellence from Newcastle College in 2001, Diploma in Coaching Performance in 2004 and Diploma in Life Coaching in 2005 from the Newcastle College.
He has also achieved his D32/33 Award (Assessor’s) in Customer Services from Oldham College and is now the Assessor of the National Vocational Qualification Customer Service up to Level 3 and Business Administration Level 3 for employees of the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council. In 2001 he qualified as Appraiser of Magistrates to assess the knowledge and understanding under the standards designed by the National Magistrates Association, London and passed his Certificate in Life Coaching in November 2004. He believes that the whole life is a learning curve and you learn new things every day. For learning you must have a positive attitude.
Ghulam Rasul first came to the Britain in 1976 but in 1984, he returned back to Pakistan and started practice as an Advocate. He was later admitted as member of the Lahore High Court Bar Association. After four and a half-year, he returned back to Rochdale in 1989. In 1993, he was appointed as a Magistrate and is now the Chairman of the Bench and also the Appraiser.
Ghulam Rasul was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award in 1997, Community Service Award 2002, by the Asian Businesses Support Agency and the National Bob Cotton Award 2004, for Good Citizenship.
In 2001, he was nominated for the Asian Jewels Award the First National Award supported by the Prime Minister Tony Blair in recognition of the Asians contribution to improve the quality of life in United Kingdom. The Award went to the Mayor of Oldham Councilor Riaz Ahmed but Mr.Shahzad's contribution was recognized on the national level.
Ghulam Rasul Shahzad, has been awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the New Year's Honours List for his services to social housing and to the community in Rochdale.
