LONDON (Kashmir English): In a proud moment for the Pakistani and Kashmiri community, a Kashmiri-origin figure, Dr. Zahid Chauhan, has been awarded the title of “Honorary Lifetime Freemen of Oldham”.
In a historic decision at the annual council meeting of Oldham, Chauhan, a two-time mayor of Oldham, was unanimously appointed as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Oldham.
This is the highest civic honour bestowed by Oldham Council, which is given to individuals who have rendered exemplary service to the borough and its community.
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This honour is not only a recognition of Dr. Zahid Chauhan’s decades of public service, but also a proud moment for the Pakistani and Kashmiri communities residing in the United Kingdom.
In a post on X, Dr. Zahid Chauhan said, “To receive this honour from a place I’ve dedicated so much of my life to is a moment of great pride, and to be the first Asian person to receive it in Oldham makes this milestone even more meaningful.”
This afternoon at the Annual Council meeting, I was deeply honoured to be unanimously appointed as an Honourary Freeman of the Borough of Oldham by my colleagues in the chamber.
This is the highest civic honour a council can grant and is given to individuals who have provided… pic.twitter.com/JXIal7Nwha
— Zahid Chauhan, OBE,FRCGP (@ChauhanZahid) May 21, 2025
Furthermore, the former Oldham mayor said, “An official ceremony will take place later in the year, but I wanted to take a moment now to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey.”
This recognition reflects the values of public service and community, and I’m proud to share it with all of you, he wrote.
Dr. Zahid Chauhan is internationally renowned for his charity services through his organisation, Homeless Friendly, established in the UK to help homeless people, and he has also received the great honour of OBE from the Queen of Great Britain.
