Birmingham City Council is pleased to announce that Councillor Zaker Choudhry has been formally installed as Lord Mayor of Birmingham, becoming the city’s First Citizen.
Born in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and raised in a close‑knit rural community, Councillor Choudhry’s early life was shaped by strong family values of faith, service and integrity. Several generations of his family served in the armed forces, including his father, who was recognised by King George VI in 1945 for his contribution during the Second World War. These influences instilled in him a lasting sense of duty and civic responsibility.
Councillor Choudhry moved to Birmingham in 1969 at the age of fourteen, embracing the challenges of a new language, education system and culture. While studying, he worked in manufacturing and later progressed to senior operational roles, gaining extensive experience in workforce management and organisational leadership. Alongside his professional career, he developed successful business interests in property and local enterprises, becoming a respected figure within Birmingham’s business community.
His public service career began when he was first elected as a councillor in 2006. Since then, he has represented communities in Bordesley Green and South Yardley, building a reputation as a pragmatic and approachable local representative with a strong focus on neighbourhood wellbeing, infrastructure and public safety. His wider civic roles have included serving as a Lead Member of the West Midlands Police Authority, Vice Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and membership of strategic transport and planning bodies.
Charitable and community engagement has been a defining feature of his public life. Councillor Choudhry has long supported food banks and local voluntary organisations across Birmingham and played an active role in coordinating community support during the COVID‑19 pandemic. As chairman of his local mosque, he has helped lead significant fundraising efforts for Birmingham‑based charities and has also contributed directly to international humanitarian relief, including following the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
He will be supported during his mayoral year by his Lady Mayoress, Zubeda Rashid, who was born and raised in Birmingham. Educated locally, the Lady Mayoress is widely admired for her resilience, compassion and dedication to family and community. She has consistently demonstrated courage and inner strength, qualities that have shaped her supportive role throughout her husband’s public service journey. Together, they share a strong commitment to hospitality, inclusion and service.
As Lord Mayor, Councillor Choudhry will act as an ambassador for Birmingham, presiding as ceremonial head for the Council over its civic functions and social occasions. He will also be acting as a focal point in times of crisis, tragedy or triumph. He will be championing the voluntary sector, celebrating the efforts of community groups and charities, and promoting unity across the city’s richly diverse communities.
Reflecting on his forthcoming appointment, he said: “It is a profound honour to serve Birmingham as Lord Mayor. This city welcomed me as a young teenager and gave me the opportunity to build a life rooted in service, hard work and community. I look forward to representing all our residents and celebrating the people and organisations who make Birmingham such a remarkable city.”
