Saigol Group

The Saigol Group, also known as Kohinoor Group, is a Pakistani conglomerate company which is based in Lahore, Pakistan. The company was founded by Amin Saigol in the 1930s with a small shop that eventually developed into the Kohinoor Rubber Works.[1][2]

Historical background

The Saigol family were originally farmers from a small town called Khotian, Chakwal District, Punjab, Pakistan. Khotian town was later named Saigolabad after this family. Sayeed Saigol moved to Calcutta in the 1930s and opened a shoe store. He opened a rubber shoe factory, and was a supplier of rubber shoes and raincoats to the Allied Forces during World War II.[1]

Saigol, anticipating the division and independence of British India, moved his assets to Lahore in the early 1940s. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, with the help of his younger brothers Yousuf and Bashir, he set up their first textile spinning mill in Lyallpur (now called Faisalabad) in 1949. Later the family expanded its textile business to Rawalpindi and Gujjar Khan, and bought a sugar mill in Jauharabad from the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation. In 1958–59, the Saigols founded the United Bank Limited.[1]

Nationalisation and back to privatisation

In 1972, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto regime started its nationalization drive and most businesses of the Saigol Group were nationalized over the next four years. By 1976, only the textile and sugar businesses remained.[1]

Then came the General Zia-ul-Haq's regime in July, 1977 and back to privatization of industries started. In the early 1980s, the Saigol Group started rebuilding and reinvesting after their huge business losses due to nationalization of industries in Pakistan during the 1970s.[1]

The group is now managed by three Saigol brothers: Tariq Sayeed Saigol, Nasim, and Taufeeq.[3] Also part of the family is sister Naz Saigol, now married to Mian Muhammad Mansha Yaha.

Tariq Saigol, the eldest brother, is head of Kohinoor-Maple group, which owns the Kohinoor textile mills and Maple-Leaf Cement.[4] He is known to be openly critical of the Pakistani government's lack of interest in the textile sector. Nasim Saigol heads PEL and Kohinoor industries.[5] Rafiq, the youngest brother, takes care of the group's other business interests. Bashir Saigol was assigned the managing directorship of Kohinoor Textile Mills, Rawalpindi and Conforce Limited. He is survived by son Iqbal Saigol, who heads his own small group. After the division of the family silver, KTM Rawalpindi came to the lot of Tariq Saeed Saigol who is now heading his own Kohinoor group.

Companies

The group currently owns following companies:[6]

  • Kohinoor Textile Mills, Faisalabad
  • United Chemicals Limited, Kala Shah Kaku
  • Kohinoor Engineering Limited, Kala Shah Kaku
  • Kohinoor Ghee Mills Limited, Kala Shah Kaku
  • Kohinoor Ginning Factory, Multan
  • Kohinoor Sugar Mills, Liaquatabad
  • Rachna Textile Mills, Gujjar Khan
  • Saigol Computers
  • Pak Elektron (PEL)
  • Faisalabad Grammar School
  • Kohinoor Energy
  • Azam Textile Mills Limited, Lahore
  • Saritow Textile Mills Limited, Lahore
  • Kohinoor Motor Works, joint-venture with Qingqi Rickshaws
  • The Four Seasons Private Limited
  • Maple Leaf Cement (acquired in 1992)[1]

References
  1. Jamal, Nasir (11 November 2013). "Rebuilding on ruins of nationalization (includes history of Saigol Group)". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  2. "The richy rich ones of poorly poor nation": http://dailymailnews.com/dmsp0204/dm001.html.
  3. "Group profile". Archived from the original on 6 February 2010.
  4. "Executive Profile". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  5. "Executive Profile". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  6. http://pel.com.pk/index.php/group-profile/
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