Javed Anwar is the man who pledges $10 million to the flood-affected persons in Pakistan on behalf of his family and deceased relatives in the first telethon conducted by Imran khan on Monday, August 29, 2022. It all happened during a telethon with specific agenda for collecting donations for the rehabilitation and resettlement of 33 million people of Pakistan who got affected as a result of natural calamity in the form of floods. Mr. Javed called during the telethon, and when his voice came out of the speakers, former Prime Minister Imran Khan formally introduced him to the audience as the man who is one of the most hard-working man for Pakistan. Mr Imran Khan further added that Javed belongs to the “league of expatriates” who always stands along with the People of Pakistan in times of need and also donated generously to Shaukat Khanaam Memorial Cancer hospital Namal University Mianwali. After a brief introduction, former PM Imran Khan asked Mr. Javed to speak; he said that, while watching television, he saw the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan and couldn’t sleep well. In the process saw his deceased mother in a dream, and she asked Javed, what have you done for the people affected by natural calamity? He remembers that his mother used to provide food to the poor’s and instructed him to follow her footsteps. This was the moment when he decided to fulfill the needs of the displaced people and do everything in his power to end their misery, said Mr. Javed.
Houston-based Syed Javed Anwar is the same person who sponsored Imran Khan's jalsa in Washington, D.C. https://t.co/aYqAh1HSQg
— Awais Saleem (@awaissaleem77) August 29, 2022
Syed Javed Anwar is a Pakistani-born US businessman and philanthropist and currently is the CEO of Midland Energy in Texas, USA. He was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and upon completing his high school education, he immigrated to the United States, where he attended the University of Wyoming and received his degree in Petroleum Engineering. Upon completion, he started his professional career as a petroleum engineer. His continuous struggle and hard work made him one of the wealthiest and most respectable persons in the US oil industry. His life was often compared with Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich because both started their journey from scratch and rose to the highest echelons of the Petro-chemicals industry. In recognition to his achievements in the oil industry, the Texas Governor presented Javed with the Permian Basin Petroleum Association’s (PBPA’S) “Top Hand award.” It is given as the PBPA’s highest honor. The award fundamentally acknowledges Javed’s massive contributions to the oil and gas sector.
Read more: PTI’s telethon—proof of Pakistanis’ trust in Imran Khan
Moreover, Javed is a well-respected man in the US diplomatic and social circles and a close friend of two former US presidents, George W. Bush and Donald Trump. He played a pivotal role in strengthening in Pak-USA relations. Apart from his business and diplomatic endeavors, he is also known as “Javed the philanthropist” because he regularly donates money for charitable purposes. In 2014, he received the “Philanthropist of the Year” Award from the Permian Basin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professional (AFP), which was presented to him by former US President George W. Bush. He was awarded Hilal-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s 2nd highest civil award on 23rd March, 2021 and presented to him by the President of Pakistan in recognition for his services in aspects sectors that includes reinforcing PAK-US relations, philanthropy, and education.
Note: A slightly different version of this article appears in the 2022 September Magazine.