Conservative Friends of Pakistan’s Virtual Events 2020
What started in March 2020 as an attempt to virtually connect with CFOP members during the challenging COVID-19 1st lockdown, developed into a great way of connecting not just with existing CFOP member but brought CWO, other affiliate groups together and increased our membership.
The CFOP zoom session was launched by our Chairman- Lord Choudrey CBE, following up with invitations to the GE19 intake of new MPs and seasoned ministers for a dedicated Q&A session. These virtual sessions included Joy Morrissey MP, Alicia Kearns MP, Virginia Crosbie MP, Dehanna Davison MP, Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, Saqib Bhatti MP, Rt. Hon Sajid Javid MP, Nus Ghani MP, Tom Tugendhat MP, Guy Opperman MP, Mims Davis MP, Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP, as well as an informative joint workshop with Conservative Friends of China, India and Bangladesh, for candidates on Public speaking by Resham Kotecha.
The virtual platform flourished, allowing CFoP to not only celebrate a virtual Iftar, an Eid Milan celebration but a Pakistan Day celebration with special guest Asad Umar- Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms & Special Initiatives, on Pakistan’s success of covid-19 containment and H.E. M. Nafees Zakaria the then High Commissioner for Pakistan. Furthermore our Annual Party Conference virtual evening was a huge success, graced by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood H. Qureshi, Party Chair Amanda Milling MP and many Parliamentarians; while the Forgotten Soldiers-Remembrance Day highlighted our special guest and renowned historian Dr. Robert Lyman, the acting High Commissioner Mohammad Ayub, Johnny Mercer MP -Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Ministry of Defence and with Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Lord Sarfaraz, Lord Greenhalgh and many others who shared personal stories of their ancestors who participated and World War I and WWII.
The year ended with a virtual Christmas celebration with special guest Lord Greenhalgh- Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Home Office, Rt. Revd David Walker, Lord Bishop of Manchester, Patron-Tom Tugendhat MP-Chair-Foreign Affairs committee, H.E. Moazzam Khan, High Commissioner for Pakistan to UK, Nickie Aiken MP -Vice Chair Conservative Party, Saqib Bhatti MP- Meriden and hosted by CFoP Director- Ahmereen Reza OBE, Revd. Rana Youab Khan & Arif Anis Malik.
We have been fortunate to have our virtual events graced by a stellar line up of Peers, Ministers and Parliamentarians who continue to support CFoP events. Thank you to Rt. Hon. Lord Ahmad, Lord Sarfaraz, Lord Greenhalgh, Rt. Hon. Amanda Milling MP, Rt. Hon. Brandon Lewis MP, Rt. Hon. Sir Ian Duncan Smith MP, Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP, Andrew Stephenson MP, Paul Bristow MP, Nus Ghani MP, Felicity Buchan MP, Alan Mak MP, Saqib Bhatti MP, Joy Morrissey MP, Angela Richardson MP, Imran Ahmad Khan MP, our very own Andy Street -Mayor West Midlands and Shaun Bailey-Conservative Mayoral Candidate. Thank you to our Chair Lord Choudrey CBE, Vice Chair-Qamar Raza, Ahmereen Reza OBE, Shakar Elahi, Aliya Khan, Fazan Tahir and Mohammed Afzal for making Conservative Friends of Pakistan’s virtual events such a success. We hope to continue our virtual engagement in the New Year with all your support. So do watch this space.
With best wishes
Ms. Ahmereen Reza OBE
Director - Conservative Friends of Pakistan
