Mayor Billy Sheerin meets Malik Nadeem Kamran

Malik Nadeem Kamran with the Mayor Billy Sheerin and members of the Sahiwal Working Party

Former Provincial Minister, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Member of the Provincial Assembly, from Pakistan, recently visited Rochdale, meeting with Mayor Billy Sheerin in the Mayor's Parlour.

Following the visit to Rochdale Town Hall, Malik Nadeem Kamran and Mayor Billy Sheerin met with members of the Sahiwal Working Party and attended their meeting at Castlemere Community Centre.

Since Sahiwal in north-east Pakistan was twinned with Rochdale in 1989, the Sahiwal Working Party has helped develop a number of life-changing projects to alleviate poverty and aid education, from disability and dental work to IT and social housing.

Ghulam Rasul Shahzad OBE, Secretary of the Sahiwal Working Party said: “Tributes were paid to the late Abdul Hamied Choudhary who was the driving force in establishing a link with Sahiwal in 1989."

Mr Kamran said: “I have visited Rochdale many times in the past and would like to thank the former Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Zaman, Tony Lloyd MP, Councillors and members of the Sahiwal Working Party who visited Sahiwal in 2018.

“I would also like to thank the people of the borough of Rochdale for their continued support for the twinning link. 

“People of Sahiwal are thankful for the contribution Rochdale has made, as they learnt and benefitted a lot from various projects delivered, exchange visits, visits to various projects, ambulances, fire engines, gully cleaner, eye camp and maternity training for midwives etc.

“During my ten years' tenure as a Provincial Minister of the Punjab Province, and being a resident of Sahiwal, I have been able to get the following for people of Sahiwal: a medical college, a university where 4,000 students are studying, a grid station to overcome the shortage of electricity, an established Arts Council and technical college.

“I have also been given approval for a bridge in Sahiwal for dealing with traffic problems, and worked with international organisations to improve the quality of life of people.”

Mr Kamran extended an invitation to Mayor Sheerin to visit Sahiwal.