Pakistani businessman wants to become prime minister of UK

At an award ceremony in London for Entrepreneur of the Year 2019, one of the consulting judges asked British-Pakistani businessman Ali Shah about his future plans.

Shah, who had won in the category of “Scale-up”, didn’t hesitate to lay out his future plans. He confidently replied, “Next I plan to be the prime minister of United Kingdom.”

For the 40-year-old businessman nothing is beyond reach. His self-assurance comes from his journey. In fifteen years, he has turned around a failed travel agency, Bookable Holidays, into a company with a turnover of Rs 66 billion per year. He first set up TravelUp out of his home. Today, Shah’s company has offices in London, American, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Spain and Bangkok.

“My moto is hard work and enjoy what you do,” he told Geo.tv at his office in London. “Because if you don’t love what you do, it will not work out in the long run.”

The father of three says he also tries to help the men and women who come from his birth country. They, he added, remind him of his own past.

Fifteen-years-ago, Shah left his home in Pakistan’s Sialkot for London. When he arrived, he had only a few bucks in his pocket and could not speak any English.

One of Shah’s recent feat has been bringing the British Airways back to Pakistan this year. The airline suspended its operation in the country in 2008, after a bombing at a five-star hotel in the capital city.

“It took a while, but I was successful in bringing British Airways to return to Pakistan,” the travel entrepreneur explained, “And now we are running the entire British Airways set up in the country from here, my office.”

Shah, who enjoys playing golf and cricket in his free time, has the next few years of his life mapped out. “I want to take the company to a level where it is turning over at least $1 billion per year,” he said, “Then, I will hand it over and join politics.”

The businessman added that he is certain he will do well in both Pakistani and British politics. “The world needs better politicians, and unfortunately there is shortage of them. So maybe I can help.”