Launched in KPK in the 60s, the Al-Haj Group is engaged in logistics and transportation, including hauling liquid bulk cargo and in auto assembly, tyres, and textile businesses.
The most recent addition to the group is that of the flagship Al-Haj FAW Motors Pvt. Ltd (AHFML) has an automobile assembly plant that simultaneously rolls out heavy-duty trucks and light vehicles.
Another subsidiary, Al-Haj Tankers, imports diesel and oil from the Middle East for export to Afghanistan.
AHFML was incorporated as a private limited company in 2006, with its promoters contributing 100pc of the Rs2bn investment. The group’s chairman, Haji Shah Jee Gul Afridi, is an independent MNA from Fata, and his brothers are partners in the business.
Initially, the Al-Haj group introduced China-based FAW’s heavy-duty trucks as completely built-up (CBU) units.
The market’s positive response encouraged AHFML to enter into a technical licence agreement with FAW to produce the vehicles in the country.
The state-of-the-art plant is spread over 25 acres and can produce 12,000 to 15,000 units annually. It has separate facilities to produce FAW’s heavy commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles, and passenger cars. Last month, it introduced a new 1.3-litre hatchback, V-2.