The Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) would like to inform with deep grief and sorrow that Chairman Businessmen Group and Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli passed away on Tuesday in Dubai due to cardiac arrest. Vice Chairmen BMG Tahir Khaliq, Zubair Motiwala, Haroon Farooki & Anjum Nisar, General Secretary BMG AQ Khalil, President KCCI M. Shariq Vohra, Senior Vice President KCCI Saqib Goodluck, Vice President Shamsul Islam Khan, KCCI Managing Committee Members, all BMGIANs and the prominent members of the business & industrial community have expressed deep grief and sorrow on sad demised of Siraj Teli who will always be remembered for his exceptional and dedicated services to the business and industrial community.
They prayed that may Almighty Allah place the departed soul in Jannat ul Firdous and grant courage to the members of the bereaved family, friends, well-wishers and all BMGIANs to bear this irreparable loss. Details about Namaz-e-Janaza and funeral will be announced in due course.
To mourn the sad demise of Late Siraj Kassam Teli, the Karachi Chamber will remain closed for three days except the Attestation and Media Departments which would remain partially open.
Late Siraj Kassam Teli was a distinguished industrialist possessing eminent qualities of leadership. He belonged to a renowned family that has been active in business since the inception of Pakistan. Siraj Teli’s valuable family background has been a great source of strength in enabling him to conduct his life ethically and successfully.
As Chairman of the Businessmen Group, Siraj Teli was recognized for his extraordinary leadership of the Business and Industrial community over the past 25 years. He brought about revolutionary and progressive changes in trade politics and in the functioning of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the SITE Association of Industry and other platforms of public service and social work.
Siraj Kassam Teli also served as Director of Pakistan Beverage Ltd., (Pepsi-Cola) Karachi, Hyderabad and Quetta. Apart from the beverage sector, he had considerable experience in textiles, dairy products and energy and he was also a Director of Gul Ahmed Energy Limited, Metro Power Company, Yassir Fruit Juice, Haji Kassam Haji Mohammad & Co. and Pakola Products (Pvt) Limited.
To recognize Siraj Teli’s outstanding contribution to the national economy and public service, the then President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari was pleased to confer the award “Sitara-e-Imtiaz”.
Siraj Teli’s services to the private sector, his efforts for the industrial development and his endeavor for the unity of the nation in general and business and industrial community in particular, his aggressive and creative plans to boost export and his contribution to the economic development of the country were indeed creditable and commendable that is why he was conferred with Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) by the Faculty of Management & Social Sciences of the Institute of Business & Technology (BIZTEK).
Siraj served on the boards of many government and semi-government organizations as a representative of the business community. These include SITE Limited, Land Utilization, Port Qasim Authority, Civil Aviation Authority Sindh Workers Welfare Board, Workers Welfare Fund, KESC and many educational institutions. He was also serving as Board of Trustee in Karachi Port Trust. He and his family made discreet contributions to many philanthropic causes.
Siraj Teli also served as President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chairman, Pakistan Beverage Manufacturers Association and Patron-in-Chief and Chairman of the SITE Association of Industry.
Siraj Kassam Teli’s unrelenting, sincere and honest efforts have changed the outlook of Trade Politics. As a result, now genuine stakeholders are seen taking part in the affairs of KCCI. His leadership had been instrumental in changing the mindset of the Business Community in such a manner that the Chamber now looks after the general interest of Karachi as a whole and, without any discrimination of cast, color or creed.
Late Siraj Kassam Teli’s services to the private sector, his efforts for industrial development, his endeavors for the unity of the nation in general and business and industrial community in particular and his contribution to the economic development of the country, were indeed commendable and will always be remembered.