MONITORING REPORT
NEW YORK
US businessman and philanthropist of Pakistan origin, Tanweer Ahmed has been in headlines this week after a Pakistani TV channel revealed that he held multiple secret meetings with former premier Imran Khan in Adiala Jail in October last year to find grounds for a breakthrough. The reports alleged that the American-Pakistan tycoon held several rounds of talks with Imran Khan in jail till the talks broke down.
Tanweer Ahmed also confirmed in an interview that it was him who had met Khan multiple times. Since then, the businessman has been in the eye of a storm on social media and the Pakistani TV talk shows. Allegations have been made against him, including that he has been a supporter of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). However, it has been revealed now that he has not supported any Pakistani political party in any kind, let alone the PTI.
Tanweer has not supported PTI, PPP, PML-N or another party, instead he has worked with various Pakistani administrations to improve Pakistan relations with the United States.Imran Khan’s sister has also made the air clear when she confirmed that Tanweer Ahmed had actually met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail. Speaking to media outside the Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan revealed that Tanweer Ahmed was a major donor to NAMAL University. He has also given large donations to Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital but he has not supported the PTI. Aleema Khan also mentioned that Tanweer Ahmed has given nearly $10 million donation to Islamabad’s National University of Science & Technology (NUST). Field Marshal, General Asim Munir last year also acknowledged Tanweer’s support and thanked him saying: “Pakistan is proud of heroes like you.
”This happened after NUST confirmed that Tanweer Ahmed has entered into a partnership with the university through an Endowment Fund for unprivileged students which will benefit nearly 200 students who would be able to get scholarships every year. The $9 million donation is one of the single largest donations by any overseas Pakistani to any Pakistani university.
Tanweer Ahmed is an American-Pakistani businessman, investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist who works with major companies, not-for-profit organizations and hospitals. He is the owner of the largest cricket complex in Houston, the Prairie View Cricket Complex and the owner of the Houston Hurricanes cricket franchise. The multi-millionaire businessman is the founder of a brand of food chains and also owns many food chain franchises like Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC. He owns California’s largest transport company and has business interests in the energy sector and medicine industry. Tanweer Ahmed is credited for over US$50 million in aid to Pakistan during the 2022 devastating floods in Pakistan.
Tanweer Ahmed started on a humble note in the US when he migrated from Sialkot as a student and settled in San Francisco. He started his food business which grew from one store to 153 stores in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas with over 5,000 employees – making him one of the largest fast-food franchise owners in America. Simultaneously, Ahmed set up insurance companies and also invested in energy production businesses in Texas, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. It was in 2018 when he announced plans to construct the largest cricket complex in the U.S. He acquired 86 acres of land, not very far from the main Houston city area
