Atta Haq, joins centuries old civic tradition in London’s Guildhall

British Pakistani businessman and community figure honoured at historic Guildhall ceremony, marking a significant milestone in a career

LONDON: British Pakistani businessman, communications and events professional Atta Haq has been admitted to the Freedom of the City of London at a traditional ceremony at Guildhall, joining a civic tradition whose origins stretch back centuries.

The occasion marked a significant personal milestone for Mr Haq, as well as a proud moment for his family, friends and the communities with which he has worked throughout a career spanning business, public relations, marketing, media, events and community engagement.

The Freedom of the City of London is among the capital’s oldest surviving civic traditions. Historically associated with the rights of medieval citizens to trade and conduct business within the City, it has evolved from a practical status into a ceremonial institution that connects contemporary recipients with centuries of London’s civic history.

For Mr Haq, that connection between past and present carries particular significance. His admission places a contemporary British Pakistani story within an institution whose history long predates the multicultural, globally connected London of today. It is a reminder that historic institutions do not exist apart from the societies around them; their continuing relevance is also reflected in the people who become part of their story.

Much of Mr Haq’s professional and community work has centred upon bringing people together across cultural and social boundaries, promoting British Asian achievement and creating platforms through which enterprise, culture and community contribution can receive wider recognition.

Speaking following the ceremony, Mr Haq said:

“This is a great honour and an incredibly emotional moment for me. It is difficult to put into words what receiving the Freedom of the City of London means to me and my family.

“I dedicate this very special moment to my country, my family, my friends and all the communities I have had the privilege of working with over the years.

“Britain has given so many of us opportunities to build our lives, raise our families, establish businesses and fulfil our ambitions. We all have a responsibility to give something back.

“My message is simple: let us remain united. Let us work together for the country we call home, respect one another and use our individual success to create opportunities for others.

“I am extremely grateful to everyone at the City of London and Guildhall who supported my admission and made the ceremony such a memorable occasion. I will always treasure this moment.”

Freedom ceremonies continue to take place at the Chamberlain’s Court at Guildhall, preserving customs associated with an institution that has formed part of London’s civic life for generations. During the traditional ceremony, a new Freeman makes the Declaration of a Freeman and signs the official declaration book before receiving a parchment copy of the Freedom and the historic Rules for the Conduct of Life.

During the ceremony, Mr Haq was also referred to, in accordance with City tradition, as the “youngest Freeman”, an expression denoting the most recently admitted Freeman rather than the recipient’s biological age.

His admission also resonates beyond an individual achievement. The story of British Pakistanis in Britain is one of successive generations establishing roots while contributing across business, medicine, law, politics, education, charity, media, culture and public service. Mr Haq’s admission offers another moment within that broader history: one in which heritage and participation in British civic life are not competing identities, but complementary parts of the same story.

Throughout his career, Mr Haq has been associated with business, media, cultural and community initiatives, with a particular emphasis on promoting achievement and providing platforms for people from diverse backgrounds. His work across public relations, marketing and the events industry has enabled him to champion British Asian talent, businesses and cultural initiatives while strengthening connections between communities and wider British institutions.

For Mr Haq, the recognition therefore carries a responsibility extending beyond the ceremony itself. He said he hoped the occasion would encourage younger generations, particularly young British Pakistanis and British Asians, to participate confidently in British life without feeling that doing so requires them to diminish the heritage from which they come.

Reflecting on the occasion, he said:

“Whatever our background, religion, language or heritage, we share a future in this country. We should celebrate where we come from, but we should also be proud of the country in which we live and contribute to its future.

“Success has greater meaning when we use it to help other people. I hope this moment encourages younger generations, particularly young British Pakistanis and British Asians, to believe that they can participate fully in British life while remaining proud of their heritage.

“This Freedom gives me an even greater sense of responsibility to continue serving communities, promoting unity and diversity, and creating opportunities that bring people together.”

Mr Haq expressed his appreciation to the officials associated with the City of London and Guildhall, as well as to his family, colleagues, friends and supporters who shared the occasion with him.

The ceremony at Guildhall was, for him, both the culmination of one chapter and the beginning of another. Yet perhaps its wider significance lies in the meeting of two histories: an ancient civic tradition shaped over centuries, and the evolving story of a Britain continually enriched by people whose journeys, identities and contributions have become woven into its national life.

As he left Guildhall as a newly admitted Freeman of the City of London, Mr Haq returned to the message he hopes will endure beyond the ceremony:

“Let us work together, give back to the country that has given us opportunities, and build an even stronger, more united Britain for the next generation.”