Family business in Pakistani-IV Valika, Fancy and Ispahani By Ikram Sehgal.

VALIKA -- Kamruddin Valibhai of Bombay, the founder of the dynasty that came to be known as the Valikas, had four sons, Fakhruddin Valibhai, Najjamuddin Valibhai, Saifuddin Valibhai and Nooruddin Valibhai.

One of the leading Muslim industrialists of Mumbai known for his unflinching support to the cause of Pakistan, Kamruddin Valibhai enjoyed close association with stalwarts of Muslim League and donated generously for their political activities.

He shared the idea of setting up a textile mill in Mumbai with the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

The Quaid advised him to opt for Karachi- the future capital of Pakistan moving to Karachi. The family bought land in the New Queens Road of Lalazar, which presently houses the extended family of the Valikas.

On his death Kamruddin's eldest son took over as the head of the family, becoming Director of 20 business enterprises.

Fakhruddin Valibhai Valika's interests included shipping, banking, insurance, cotton textiles and cement and head of one of the richest families in Pakistan in 1971.

Since independence in 1947, the name 'Valika' has been synonymous with leading-edge manufacturing projects contributing to the rapid industrialization of Pakistan during the economic growth of the 1960s.

These included, among others, Valika Textile Mills (the first in Pakistan), Valika Art Fabrics (Polyester and related products), Valika Cement (the first after independence), Valika Chemical (built on world class German technology), Mohammadi Shipping Company (the 1st locally built ship, Al-Abbas become operational in 1967), Valika Steel (specializing in manufacturing special stainless steel).

By the time Fakhruddin died in Dec 1972 at the age of 60 in New York, he was a founder] member of the Karachi Stock Exchange and a patron of sports, particularly cricket and field hockey.

A leading philanthropist he established many charitable institutions. The family has been deeply involved in community-based philanthropic activity benefiting from schools, hospitals, subsidized housing schemes and charitable trusts for education and the needy, mainly in Karachi.

The family became so influential in Karachi before 1971 that visiting foreign dignitaries like Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai would visit their industrial units.

Nationalization in the 1970s fragmented the business units but made the group venture into trading and supplying different commercial businesses like export and import catering Pakistan State Oil, Pakistan Steel...