Imran Adrees Chaudhary

Imran Adrees Chaudhary was born in Sahiwal, Pakistan in 1965. As an avid cricketer, later to become professional began playing from early on during his school years at the Islamia High School Civil Line in Lahore. He then went on the play for the 1^st class team at Pak Railways.

Imran came to the UK in 1988 as a professional cricketer, to play for Radcliffe Cricket Club in Manchester. He played from 1988 to 1991 for the club, along with working in the manufacturing department at Marks and Spencer.

Falling in love with the UK, Imran decided to set up his permanent residence in Scotland so travelled there in 1994 to take benefit of new opportunities. He opened his first convenience store in the north of Glasgow, going on to open a further 6. However due to his son becoming terminally ill, he was not able to continue the business and took a hiatus for a few years in order to take care of his son. He came back into business in 2010 and has thrived ever since.

In recent years Imran has become very politically active in Pakistan as well. He became more hands on in the political arena in 2006, as a leading member, and President of the Scottish wing of one of Pakistan’s leading political parties.

He has been spearheading the campaign to twin the cities of Sahiwal and Rochdale extremely successfully, allowing both cities to work together and promote each other’s cultures. It will also allow local businesses to come together to learn and teach each other.

Imran said, “Pakistan needs the community abroad to come together and help the country progress, even if it means doing the little things in their local areas, such as building water wells or even donating to local schools. Each penny makes a real difference and that is what counts.  It is only then that Pakistan will be able to move forward and progress”.