Tariq Halal Meats Signs British Army Covenant

British Army Signs Major Supply Deal With UK Halal Meat Producer Tariq Halal Meats

November 13, 2026

3 minute read

Tariq Halal Meats, one of the largest halal meat suppliers in the UK and Europe, has signed the Armed Forces Covenant with the British Army. Major General Karl Harris and founder Tariq Sheikh, a British-Pakistani businessman born in Gujrat in Pakistan’s Punjab province, signed the agreement at the company’s Wembley headquarters on Armistice Day.

Tariq Halal Meats Signs the Armed Forces Covenant

The agreement aims to support veterans, encourage British Muslims to join the Armed Forces and strengthen ties with South Asian communities. The company was founded in Southall in 1994 and has grown into a leading name in the sector, a success that many in the British-Pakistani community will welcome.

Commitments to Veterans and Service Families

The company will guarantee job interviews to former military personnel, give reservists paid leave for annual training and offer flexible working to partners of serving personnel. The covenant will also be displayed in its shops, which Sheikh said welcome more than three million customers each year.

Harris praised the contribution of South Asian soldiers from British India in both World Wars. Sheikh noted that the Pakistan Army traces its origins to the British Indian Army, and urged young British Pakistanis to consider military service, reserve roles or cadet units.

Representation in the Armed Forces

The British Army says more than 450 Muslim personnel serve in its ranks, and government figures suggest Muslims make up around 0.4% of the UK’s Regular Forces. The Muslim Council of Britain puts the Muslim population at about four million, or roughly 6% to 6.5% of the country.

That gap shows why partnerships with community businesses matter. Practical steps such as outreach in local shops, support for cadet units and recognition of Pakistani and wider South Asian military heritage could help the Army reach families who might not otherwise consider a military career. Tracking recruitment from these communities over time would show whether the covenant delivers results.