I've zero investment in PTI's housing scheme: Aneel Mussarat.

Byline: Atika Rehman

LONDON -- The name of ManAchester-based millionaire property developer, Aneel Mussarat, is frequently linked with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's 'Naya Pakistan Housing scheme'.

In an interview with Dawn at his office in London's upscale Mayfair district, he shares why the project is important to him.

For one, he is an old friend of Prime Minister Imran Khan. 'Our friendship developed in 2004.

I used to pick him up from the airport when he used to come here [to the UK]. I found him to be extremely inspirational,' says Mr Mussarat.

Recently, he flew to New York to spend time with Prime Minister Khan while he met the world leaders and American businessmen on the sidelines of the UN event.

Second, the idea of affordable housing - that makes it possible for a working class person in Pakistan to own a home - appeals to him on a very personal level.

UK-based property tycoon says he is 'distant adviser' to the government

Now the CEO of a multimillion dollar business by the name of MCR Property, Mr Mussarat says he has come a long way from the days when he contemplated driving a taxi for a living.

He began his journey working at a fast-food restaurant in EngAland after failing his O'levels.

'I left school at 17. I was academically pretty poor; it was a struggle for me, to be honest,' he says, adding that he was working at McDonald's at the time and was considering driving a cab.

'But, I liked business. I liked working with property. After my father died, my mother was given a small property portfolio by my uncle and I helped her manage that,' he said.

Mr Mussarat says he bought his first house at the age of 18, through a 95 per cent mortgage from the bank and loans from relatives. 'That's how I started buying and renting out houses. I wanted to make something of my life. All of our family friends and relatives were doing really well. I was the black sheep, so I wanted to change that and be successful.'

This idea - that a bank in the UK gave him a mortgage to finance his home - is the underlying reason for his interest in developing a similar housing scheme in Pakistan.

He describes his role in the government's project as that of a 'distant adviser'. 'Pakistan is a no-go for personal investment for me, because it would be a conflict of interest. I am purely a distant adviser if they need any guidance. I share my vision and my view,' he says.

Mr Mussarat courted controversy when he was pictured at a cabinet meeting and held a...