Javaid Anwar was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and upon completing his high school education, he immigrated to the United States, where he attended the University of Wyoming and received his degree in petroleum engineering. Upon graduation, Anwar began a career in oil and gas in Texas that has continued for nearly 40 years and led to his foundation and ownership of several oil and gas exploration companies and related entities. In 2011, he received the Outstanding Businessman and Entrepreneur Award from the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce-USA. In 2012, he received the Man of the Year award from Safeer-A-Pakistan. In 2014, President George W. Bush presented Anwar the Philanthropist of the Year award from the Permian Basin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In that same year, then-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst presented him the Businessman of the Year award from the South Asian Chamber of Commerce in Houston. In 2014, Anwar also received humanitarian awards from the Pakistan Citizens Foundation and the Human Development Foundation. In 2015, he received the Golden Hammer Award by Midland Habitat for Humanity.