Dr. Ikhtiar Baig
(P. H. D. M.B.A.) , D.B.A. (USA)
Chairman Baig Group of Companies
eTaleem:
How
& when did you start your career? Mr. Baig: I'm basically a banker,
MBA majors in finance & marketing & I have a Ph.D.
I started my career from UBL bank; I have worked
in Middle East Bank, Dubai. Presently, I look after
corporate, financial, PR & banking.
In 1982, my younger brother & I started to set up
a business, Photo Magic. So, 1982 we started Photo
Magic and opened our first branch. We launched a
new plant Noritsu Miniland that was introduced in
Dubai in 1982. It processed film in 30 minutes.
Then we expanded to Morocco and had a good response.
We have agencies of Kodak & Canon. Today we are
the pioneers of photo finishing with 22 branches.
In 1984 we hired miss India 1982 as our Public Relations
Manager for Photo Magic. It was breaking news in
Dubai newspaper that Miss India joined Pakistani
firm. And we had no clue amount of money she would
be asking for. Current Miss India is working for
a Pakistani firm. In Dubai, Indian lobbies couldn't
take it. The Indian consulate called her and demanded
she resign, big groups called her and told her to
join any of the leading Indian firms.
Today Photo Magic has 60% market share. There is
a general perception that Photo Magic is an American
or a European franchise but it is I, a Pakistani
behind it. Whenever any new shopping mall opens,
they would like us to be there. They want big names
like JC penny, Photo Magic because we bring customers.
Photo Magic is also a leader in Morocco, having
the largest market share for photo processing.
Way back in 1991 we came to Karachi, with a global
vision. We started Baig Spinning Mills. We successfully
countered all those obstacles, which were effecting
our business. An industry closed for 10 years took
a profit in the first year. The best export trophy
was awarded from Former President of Pakistan Farooque
A. Leghari.
Pak Denim was a state of the art, Denim-Manufacturing
plant, supplying to Levis, Giorgio Armani, Carrera.
We have the Prokotec award. We are tripling production
by June 2002. Very soon we will be the Largest in
Pakistan, producing 100,000 meters per day, 36 million
meter per year, all for exports. We are expanding
the operations to serve the country and increase
the image of Pakistan by producing high quality
products.
