Former Labour politician Mohammad Sarwar has made it his mission to improve education in Punjab as he begins a five-year term as governor of Pakistan's largest province.
The cash and carry tycoon, who became the UK's first Muslim MP in 1997, said it was the best way to tackle poverty among the region's 96 million people.
The former Glasgow MP will give up his British citizenship to take on the role and move into the Governor's House in Lahore, a vast mid-19th century colonial mansion set in 90 acres of grounds.
Speaking for the first time about his appointment, which was officially confirmed late on Tuesday, he said: "I am not naive about the challenges which lie ahead. This is a big job but it is one I will approach with the same values and principles I have stood up for all my life; to help lift people out of poverty and support them to fulfil their life chances.
"I believe the best route to meeting that goal is through education and I look forward to working with a dynamic Chief Minister, many friends and colleagues across Pakistan and the world to achieve that.
"It is a high honour for me to be invited to serve the country of my birth and the people of Pakistan."
However, he admitted he would miss Scotland.
He said: "I left Scotland with a heavy heart, leaving behind family, friends and colleagues who have given me such tremendous support over the years.
"In particular, I would wish to thank the people of Glasgow for the warmth and respect they have shown me in the past and for the many, many good wishes they have sent me for the future."
In prioritising education, Mr Sarwar will work closely with the Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who appointed him governor.
The office of governor makes him a head of state-style figurehead within the region but also carries significant political influence. Raising the literacy rate, currently around 60%, has been a longstanding political goal.
His son, Labour MP Anas Sarwar, said: "My feelings are a mixture of happiness, apprehension and bit of sadness my father is leaving us to start a new chapter of his life in Pakistan.
"But I'm very happy for him. It's quite a challenge but I know how much it means for him to go back to the place of his birth.
"Giving something back to improve the lives of 96m people who live in the Punjab was an attraction too big to turn down."
Mr Sarwar, born and educated in Punjab, stepped down as Labour MP for Glasgow Central in 2010 after 13 years at Westminster.
He played a key role in the election of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in June, helping win votes for his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party in his native region.
In recent years his charitable Ucare Foundation has built two hospitals, a primary school and, following flooding in 2010, hundreds of houses.
Bob Wylie, the former BBC journalist who is collaborating with Mr Sarwar on the politician's autobiography, said he had the qualities to succeed as governor.
He said: "He has boundless energy and I've seen him work 15-hour days for two weeks at a stretch when he was working to alleviate flooding in Pakistan.
"He has a achieved a great deal, miracles, in Pakistan when he has required the help of other politicians but now he will have significant political power working alongside the chief minister, Shahbaz Sharif, with whom he has a long-standing relationship."
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