Habib oil mills history and biography
House of Habib
Pakistani conglomerate family
The House of Habib (Urdu pronunciation:[ha.ˈbiːb]hah-BEEB) is a group of companies headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan. The group was originally founded by Habib Esmail in Bombay (British India) in [4][5]
History
The roots of House of Habib goes back to the 19th century when it commenced as Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo in in Bombay, operating as a family business.[1] In , a family member named Habib Esmail played a pivotal role in the company's expansion.[1] Subsequently, the company evolved into a major trading firm. In , his four sons joined the business, and Habib & Sons was established, which eventually transformed into today's HBL Pakistan or Habib Bank Limited.[1][6]
The House of Habib occupies a significant place in Pakistan's early history. Habib Bank was relocated to Pakistan at the personal request of its first Governor GeneralMohammad Ali Jinnah. Mohammad Ali Habib extended assistance to the fledgling state "even before the Government of Pakistan was ready to issue appropriate government paper". He provided a Rs. 80 million loan when the Reserve Bank of India failed to release Pakistan's share of Rs. million. It's reported that Mohammad Ali Habib presented a blank cheque from Lloyds Bank to Governor GeneralJinnah, who then filled in Rs. 80 million.[7][8]
As early as , the Habib family established offices in Vienna and Geneva. In , Habib and Sons was incorporated, specializing in brass, metal scraps, and gold, bearing the embossed Lion of Ali and Zulfiqar. This emblem remained the insignia of Habib Bank for a significant duration of its history.[9] The Rafiq Habib family oversees the House of Habib, distinct from the Dawood Habib family, which operates the Dawood Habib Group of Companies.
Family members
- Habib Esmail
- Ahmed Habib
- Dawood Habib[10]
- Mohamed Ali Habib
- Ghulam Ali Habib
- Mahomed Ali Habib
- Rafiq Habib
- Suleman Habib
- Haider Habib
- Habib Mohamedali Habib[11]