Glasgow businessman thanks public for help feeding 500 in Pakistan

Muhammad Sultan, owner of the award-winning Charcoals restaurant on Renfield Street, used his personal savings to travel to his family’s home city of Lahore to carry out the charity work.

The 38-year-old will be handing out food parcels throughout Ramadan to people in need.

So far, he has fed over 500 people a day, almost double the amount of people he helped on his trip last year.

Muhammad, who has lived in Glasgow for 14 years, opens his drop-in kitchen after sundown for each day of month of fasting.

The generous restaurateur has been lending a helping hand to widows and orphans by offering them free food, clothes and money.

Despite being born in Dubai, Muhammad has a deep connection with Pakistan after visiting family in Lahore when he was a child.

He moved to Glasgow in 2004 after marrying his wife but always wanted to return to Lahore to help those in need.

The father-of-three founded his charity kind hearts&hands, which is made up of childhood friends and cousins in Pakistan who cook and service dishes for those most in need.

Speaking previously to the Evening Times, Muhammad said: “It was my dream to go back and make a difference. I saved up to do it.

“We made sure everyone was welcome.

“We set up outside in the street and made it clear it wasn’t just Muslims we were helping. We wanted to help minorities as well.

“It wasn’t about religion, it was about humanity.

“Anyone who was hungry and in need was welcome.”

After returning to Glasgow and showing people what he done and telling them about the things he had seen, Muhammad received several offers of help, including from staff at his restaurants.

Speaking from Lahore, Muhammad thanked his friends and family and the people of Glasgow for helping his dream become a reality.

He said: “From my heart I would like to thank my family, my friends and my work colleagues, and last but not least, my lovely customers who have supported me.”