Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the life of Mr. Mohammed Iqbal Cheema, a true pioneer of Pakistani and Muslim communities in B.C.
Born in Faisalabad, Mr. Cheema arrived in Canada in 1972 with his young family and went on to build a legacy of service, generosity and community leadership. Over the past several decades, he welcomed newcomers at the airport, offered them shelter and worked tirelessly for organizations such as the BC Muslim Association, the Pakistan-Canada Association and the National Federation of Pakistani-Canadians.
Mr. Cheema's dedication to service, family and community has inspired generations. He will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on as a blessing to all of us.