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Pakistan’s business world is full of big companies and groups that have changed the country’s industries and businesses. Aside from helping Pakistan’s economy grow, these important people also became famous around the world. These companies have changed Pakistan’s economy, like Arif Habib Group in banking and Nishat Group in textiles. In this post, we have compiled a list of Pakistan’s top business groups and companies. The main industries that these big companies work in are banking, building, agriculture, real estate, and oil and gas.
Top Business Groups and Companies in Pakistan in 2024
Check out this list of Pakistan’s biggest business groups, which includes companies in a wide range of fields:
| Company | Head Office | Assets (2023) | Industry |
| Pakistan State Oil | Karachi, Pakistan | US$4.2 billion | Petroleum |
| Arif Habib Group | Karachi, Pakistan | US$1 Billion | Conglomerate |
| Nishat Group | Lahore, Pakistan | US$6 billion | Conglomerate |
| Engro Pakistan | Lahore, Pakistan | US$4.8 billion | Fertilizers |
| Fauji Foundation | Rawalpindi, Pakistan | US$4 billion | Conglomerate |
| House of Habib | Karachi, Pakistan | US$1 billion | Conglomerate |
| Dawood Hercules Corporation | Karachi, Pakistan | US$1.7 billion | Investment |
| Hashoo Group | Karachi, Pakistan | US$3.8 billion | Conglomerate |
Pakistan State Oil (PSO)
Pakistan State Oil, or PSO, is a big company in Karachi, Pakistan that is owned by the government. They carry and sell oil products, which is a very important job. There are a lot of petrol stations—3,689 to be exact. Additionally, there are 3,500 for regular people and 189 for big wholesale buyers.
PSO is better than companies like Cnergyico, Total Parco Pakistan Ltd., and Shell Pakistan Ltd. because it has an amazing 3,500 petrol stations. PSO, which was formed in 1976, made history when it made PKR 1 trillion in sales.
This company is on the Pakistan Stock Exchange and has been a part of the World Economic Forum since 2003. An interesting thing happened in 2023 when PSO opened a fuelling station at Skardu International Airport. With this, PSO is the only oil company in Pakistan that can work in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Company Details
| Address | PSO House. Khayaban-e-Iqbal, Clifton, Karachi 75600, Pakistan. |
| Website | psopk.com |
| Phone | (021) 99203866 |
| Key people | Syed Muhammad Taha (Managing Director and CEO), and Asif Baig Muhammad (Chairman) |
| Founded | January 1, 1974 |
Major Subsidiaries of Pakistan State Oil
- Asia Petroleum Limited
- Cerisma (Pvt) Ltd
- PSO Renewable Energy (Pvt) Ltd
- PSO Venture Capital (Pvt) Ltd
- Pakistan Refinery Limited
- Pak-Grease Co. Limited
Arif Habib Group
Another name for the Arif Habib Group is Arif Habib Corporation Limited. It is a large business group in Pakistan. There was a famous businessman named Arif Habib who started it in Karachi. Started as a capital markets company in 1970, specializing in trading services. It became Arif Habib Securities in 1994. Rupali Bank changed its name to Arif Habib Bank in 2006. By 2007, it had grown into a major financial services group in Pakistan.
In 2008, they suffered through the global financial crisis. The bank was sold off in 2009, and it later joined with Summit Bank. After merging an investment company with MCB Asset Management in 2010, MCB-Arif Habib Savings and Investments Limited was created. It currently has 13 companies in a wide range of industries, such as real estate, finance, energy, cement, steel, and fertilizer production. As of 2012, it had more than 11,000 employees and made Rs. 100 billion a year.
Company Details
| Website | arifhabibcorp.com |
| Founded | 1970; 53 years ago |
| Founder | Arif Habib |
| Phone | (021) 32415213 |
| Head Office Address | 23 Moulvi Tamizuddin Khan Rd, Lalazar, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
Companies Owned By Arif Habib
The following is the list of companies owned by Arif Habib.
- Aisha Steel Mills (Steel)
- Arif Habib Commodities
- Silk Bank
- Sachal Energy Wind Farm
- Power Cement Limited
- Arif Habib Consultancy
- Arif Habib Corporation (UK) Ltd.
- MCB-Arif Habib Savings and Investments
- Fatima Fertilizers
- Arif Habib Limited (Financial Services)
- Pakarab Fertilizers
- Javedan Corporation
Nishat Group
The Nishat Group is a large Pakistani conglomerate. It began in 1951 with Mian Muhammad Yahya and is now run by Mian Muhammad Mansha. It is a vertically integrated business, which means it manages every part of the production process, from getting the raw materials to distributing the finished goods. The main office of the business is in Lahore, Pakistan.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange lists several Nishat Group companies. Its first business was a cloth mill called Nishat Mills Faisalabad. Moreover, it turned a 520 million dollar profit in 2022. Nishat Group owns and runs a number of power plants in Pakistan that together have a capacity of about 1,800 megawatts. This Group also has investments in a number of different fields, such as healthcare, oil and gas, and telecoms.
Company Details
| Address | Nishat House, 53 – A, Lawrence Road, Lahore, Pakistan. |
| Phone No | (042) 111 113 333 |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Founder | Mian Muhammad Yahya |
| Chairman | Mian Muhammad Mansha |
| Website | nishatmillsltd.com |
Companies Owned by Nishat Group
These well-known Nishat Group companies are readily available on the Pakistan Stock Exchange:
- Adamjee Insurance Limited
- MCB Bank
- DG Cement
- Nishat Chunian
Unlisted Corporations
Here is a list of all the Nishat Group companies that aren’t on the Pakistani Stock Exchange:
- Nishat Linen
- Nishat Hospitality (Private) Limited
- Nishat Dairy (Private) Limited
- Nishat Papers Products Company Limited
- Security General Insurance Company Limited
- Pakistan Aviators & Aviation
- Nishat Hotels and Properties Limited
- Nishat (Gulberg) Hotel and Properties Limited
- Nishat (Aziz Avenue) Hotel and Properties Limited
- Nishat (Raiwind) Hotel and Properties Limited
- Nishat Agriculture Farming (Private) Limited
- Nishat Linen Trading LLC
- Nishat Automobile (Private) Limited
- Nishat Commodities (Private) Limited
- Nishat Developers (Private) Limited
- Lalpir Solar Power (Private) Limited
- Nishat Farms Supplies (Private) Limited
- Nishat Real Estates Development Company (Private) Limited
- Nishat International FZE
- Nishat UK (Private) Limited
- Nishat Global China Company Limited
- Nishat USA Inc.
Engro Pakistan
With its headquarters based in Karachi, Pakistan, Engro Corporation began as a fertilizer company in 1965 and has since grown into one of the biggest conglomerates in the country. Engro manages investments in many areas, such as fertilizers, power generation, telecommunications infrastructure, petrochemicals, mining, food, LNG, and chemical storage. It has more than 2,800 workers.
Additionally, the five main areas that the Engro Corporation works in are food and farmland, energy and related infrastructure, petrochemicals, telecommunications infrastructure, and international trade. It was the first company in Pakistan to use the Global Reporting Initiative structure and join the UN Global Compact.
Company Details
| Name (Previous) | Engro Foods |
| Name (Current) | FrieslandCampina Engro |
| Established | 2005 |
| Website | engro.com |
| Address | 8th Floor, The Harbour Front Building, HC # 3, Marine Drive, Block 4, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan. |
| Phone | +92 21 111 211 211 |
| Founded | 1965 (58 years ago) |
| Owner | Dawood Hercules (39.97%) |
| Key People | Hussain Dawood (Chairman), Pervez Ghias Khan (President & CEO) |
Global Partnerships
Engro partnered with:
- Mitsubishi (Engro Polymer & Chemicals)
- Royal Vopak (1997)
W0rks together with:
- World Economic Forum
- General Electric
- China Machinery Engineering Corporation
- World Bank’s International Finance Corporation
Subsidiaries
- Engro Energy
- Engro Vopak Terminals
- Engro Fertilizers
- Engro Polymer & Chemicals
- Engro Infiniti
- Engro Elengys
Fauji Foundation
The Fauji Foundation, formerly known as the Fauji Group, is a massive Pakistani conglomerate that operates in many different industries, including those of fertilizer, cement, food, electricity, gas exploration, LPG distribution and marketing, banking, and security. Its name comes from an Arabic word that means “soldier.”
The company was established to provide opportunities for retired Pakistani military people and to earn funds to assist widows and families of soldiers who gave their lives. In 1954, the Fauji Foundation began as a charity trust. It gets its money from its own businesses and spends about 80% of that on programs that help about 7% of the country’s people.
Additionally, the Foundation has distributed about Rs. 23.8 billion since its inception, funding initiatives in areas including healthcare, education, scholarships, and job training.
| Head Office Address | Fauji Towers, Tipu Rd, Chaklala Cantt., Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Phone Number | (051) 5951821 |
| Website | fauji.org.pk |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Age | 69 years old |
| Key People | Waqar Ahmed Malik (Managing Director and CEO) |
Parent Companies
Completely Owned
- Fauji Foundation Experimental & Seed Multiplication Farm
- Foundation Gas
- Fauji Cereals
- Overseas Employment Services
Subsidiaries
- Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited
- Mari Petroleum Company Limited
- Fauji Cement Company Limited
- Fauji Akbar Portia Marine Terminal Limited
- Askari Bank Limited
- Pakistan Maroc Phosphore, S.A., Morocco
- Fauji Meat Limited
- FFC Energy Limited
- Fauji Fresh n Freeze
- Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim Limited (FJFC)
- Foundation Wind Energy – II
- Fauji Kabirwali Power Company Limited
- Fauji Retirement Home
- Fauji Institute of Technology
- Foundation Securities (Pvt) Limited
- Fauji Security Services
- Fauji Foods Limited
- Foundation Solar Energy (Pvt.) Ltd.
- Foundation Wind Energy – I
- Foundation Power Company Daharki Limited
House of Habib
A major Pakistani corporation based in Karachi is The House of Habib. In 1841, Habib Esmail established it in Bombay (then under the British Raj). In Pakistan, especially among Shia Muslims, the House of Habib is known as a powerful business family. The history of the company goes back to 1841 when it was founded as Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo in Bombay as a family business.
In 1891, a family member called Habib Esmail was very important in growing the business. Gradually, it expanded into a prominent trading company. Habib & Sons was established in 1921 with the incorporation of his four sons; it evolved into what is now known as HBL Pakistan or Habib Bank Limited.
Company Details
| Founded | 1841 |
| Founder | Habib Esmail |
| Number of Employees | 12,000 |
| Website | hoh.net |
| Address | V38H+GP3, Shahrah-e-Faisal Rd, Karachi Memon Co-operative Housing Society Jinnah Housing Society PECHS, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Phone | (021) 34312030 |
Companies Associated
The following companies are part of the conglomerate:
Listed
- Agriauto Industries Limited
- Habib Insurance Company Limited
- Thal Limited
- AuVitronics Limited
- Toyota Indus
- Shabbir Tiles & Ceramics Limited
Unlisted
- Agriauto Stamping Company (Private) Limited
- Thal Boshoku Pakistan (Private) Limited
- Thal Nova Power Thar (Private) Limited
- Habib Metro Pakistan (Private) Limited
Educational institutes
- Habib Public School
- Habib University
Dawood Hercules Corporation
One such stock-exchange-listed corporation is Dawood Hercules Corporation Limited, more often known as DH Corp. As a family, the Dawood Hercules Group has been successful in business for more than one hundred years. This is their main business. Through its subsidiaries and affiliated enterprises, DH Corp participates in several areas.
The Pakistani conglomerate Engro Corporation Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of its parent company. To expand their enterprises and take on more challenging projects, they form partnerships. Karachi is home to the main office of this investment and holding corporation.
Company Details
| Address | Dawood Centre, M. T. Khan Road, Karachi, Pakistan |
| Phone No. | +92 21 35686001 |
| Founded | 17 April 1968 |
| Founder | Ahmed Dawood |
| Chairman | Hussain Dawood |
| CEO | Mohammad Shamoon Chaudry |
| Website | dawoodhercules.com |
Shareholding
- The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) lists DH Corp. as DAWH. It is a family-owned business.
- It has a total of 481,287,116 shares a long-term rating of AA and a short-term rating of A1+ from PACRA.
- Along with three other companies, DH Corp. controls 19.3% of the PSX market capitalization as a whole.
Associated Corporations
Dawood Hercules Corporation is connected to several well-known businesses.
- Inbox Business Technologies
- Tenaga Generasi Limited (TGL)
- Dawood Lawrencepur Limited (DLL)
- Reon Energy
Hashoo Group
The Hashoo Group is an influential Pakistani business empire that operates in the hotel, energy, and oil and gas industries. It has risen to become a major player in numerous sectors since its establishment in Karachi in 1960 by Saddaruddin Hashwani. The trading firm Hashoo Group was first established in 1960 in Karachi Port as Hassan Ali & Company. This group is better known these days for running Pakistan’s hotel business.
Pakistan Services Ltd, which includes both Marriot Hotels and the Pearl Continental chain of hotels in Pakistan, is controlled by this group. There are a lot of corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects that the group supports such as healthcare, education, and environmental protection.
Awards Won by Hashoo Group
The role of Chairman was given to Deputy Chairman Murtaza Hashwani in 2016. Three CSR awards were given to the group in 2019 for
- Best CSR Practices
- Women Welfare Empowerment & Development and
- Education & Scholarships
Company Details
| Founded | 1960 |
| Age | 63 years old |
| Founder | Sadruddin Hashwani |
| Website | hashoogroup.com |
| Address | NESPAK House, G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Phone No | +92 (51) 227-28-90 |
Companies
Tours and Travels
- Pearl Continental Hotel in Karachi
- Pearl Tours & Travels (Pvt) Limited (Tours division)
- Destinations of the World – Pakistan
- Trans Air Travels (Pvt) Limited
- Marriott Hotels, Pakistan
- Hotel One by PC
Information Technology
- Net-21 (Pvt) Limited
Pharmaceuticals
- Gelcaps (Pakistan) Ltd.
Oil and Gas
- Ocean Pakistan Limited
- OPI Gas (Pvt) Limited
- Zaaver Petroleum Corporation Limited
Minerals
- Zaver Chemicals (Pvt) Limited
- Zaver Oils Limited
- Zaver Mining Company Limited
Trading Companies
- Hashoo International (Pvt) Limited
- Genesis Trading (Pvt) Limited
- Hasan Ali & Company (Pvt) Limited
- Muzaffar and Companies
Let’s Wrap
The success of Pakistan’s top business groups and companies is evidence of the country’s flexibility and willingness to compete on a global scale. From large corporations to up-and-coming IT and financial firms, all of these enterprises are vital to the development of Pakistan’s economy.
In addition to fostering technological advancement and new employment opportunities, they emphasize creativity and social responsibility. These achievements serve as examples for aspiring company owners and show that Pakistan’s commercial sector has room to expand and flourish. Their efforts boost Pakistan’s economy, increase employment opportunities, and foster innovation, elevating the country’s standing both locally and globally.
