Chiniotis

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Chiniotis are one of the leading industrialists of Pakistan. They hailed from a small town of Chiniot. Chiniot is the largest town (Tehsil) of Punjab province of pakistan with a catchment area population based on 7,00,000 inhabitants(villeges,urban), is located on the banks of River Chenab, in Jhang district in southwestern Punjab. Chinioti term is reserved only for those residents and their descendants who migrated to far off Indian cities in the late 19th or early 20th century to set up small businesses.

Out of 100,000 people who proudly call themselves Chiniotis, only 5000 live in Chiniot. An estimated 2000 of them are still living in Kolkatta (Calcutta) where, before partition of British India in 1947, they had the biggest concentration. They used to have some pockets in Kanpur and Madras. Now beside Chiniot, they are living in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

The ancestors of these traders belonged to two Hindu training classes; Khatri and Arora. After embracing Islam they called themselves Khoja and adopted Sheikh or Mian as title. They are also known as Chinioti Sheikh or Khoja Sheikh. The Khatri gotras of these traders are: Adal, Behrara, Churra, Maggun (or Maghoon), Sahgal, Wadhaun (or Vadhavan), Vohra (Wihara), Talwar, Puri, Topra. Where Arora gotras are Tarneja, Goruwala, Khurana, Dhingra, Chawala.

1 Historical background
2 Rise of Chiniotis
3 Major Chinioti groups
4 Furniture
5 References

[edit] Historical background

The exact date of their ancestors' conversion to Islam is not certain. The People of the Punjab starting accepting in 11th century. There is an interesting reference of rich Khatris and Khojas in the Heer Ranjha of Waris Shah ( 1735-1790 AD).

"The beauty of her (Heer) red lips slays rich Khojas and Khatris in bazar, like murderous Kizilbash (Afghan soldiers) troopers riding out of the royal camp in to bazar with a sword"

These verses of "Heer Ranjha" written by Waris Shah in 1766 AD was probably the earliest reference to the emerging role of Muslim Khojas in the economy of the Post-Mughal Punjab.

The British Raj (1848-1947 AD) provided stability in the Punjab. The improved communication provided opportunities to those who wanted to progress. Chinioti traders took full advantage and expanded their activities beyond Punjab. Most of these traders started leather and hide trade in undivided India. Due to religious reasons, Hindu never ventured in to this field. They migrated as far as Kolkata in the late 19th or early 20th century and started business.

Muhammad Ismaeel Maula Baksh Group was the only Chinioti Group which ventured in different business and started first ginning factory in 1889 AD. In 1946 when this group split owned 14 ginning, flour mills and oil extraction plants. MIMB and Company was the parent company of Colony Group and Sunshine Group. Colony Group started first textile mill in 1945 which went to operation in independent Pakistan.

Chiniotis now ventured into different industries; like textile, ginning, chemicals, shipping, engineering, and banking etc.

[edit] Rise of Chiniotis

The trade and commerce in Pakistan are dominated by five communities;Memons, Khoja (from Gujrat, India), Bohras, Chiniotis and Saigols. Muhammad Ali Jinnah encouraged leading businessmen from native Gujrat states to move to Pakistan. They had businesses in India, Burma and Singapore. Adamjees, Habibs, Valikas, Fancy, Dawoods, Bawany and other trading houses, with their base at Karachi, started industries in Pakistan. Saigols and Chiniotis, the Sheikhs from Punjab, had established their businesses in different parts of undivided India. After creations of Pakistan, they also moved their businesses to East and West Pakistan.

During Ayub period (1958 - 1968) there was a rapid industrialization. This resulted in accumulation of wealth into the hands of 22 families of above mentioned five communities. They were all based in West Pakistan.

With the separation of East Pakistan in 1971 and than nationalization by Bhutto in 1972 resulted in great lost to these business families. By 1970 very few Chiniotis had invested into heavy industries. Due to this losses suffered by them in East Pakistan and Bhutto's nationalization were not heavy as compared to Memons or Saigols.

Nationalization completely disturbed the industrialization process started during Ayoub period. The business houses based in Karachi stopped investing in industries. This proved a blessing in disguise for the Chiniotis. who had been disadvantaged for lack of access to banking and other facilities. After 1970 they made a great progress and filled the vacuum created by Karachi based groups. In 1970 there were five Chinioti groups; Colony, Crescent, Nishat, Mannos, Maulabakhash; in top of 42 groups registered in Karachi Stock Exchange. In 1997 their number increased to 14 out of 45 groups.

[edit] Major Chinioti groups

[edit] Nishat

Nishat is the biggest industrial and financial conglomerate of Pakistan. Mian Mohammad Mansha, the Chairman of this group. This group was founded in 1948 by Mansha's father Mian Mohammad and his three brothers and named after Nishat Haroon, the 3 year old grandson of Mian Mohammad Yaqub.

Mian Yahya started leather business in Calcutta. In 1947 he moved to Pakistan. Nishat group had several industrial unit in East Pakistan, which they lost in 1970. This group now own Muslim Commercial Bank, five cement factories and many other industries.

[edit] Crescent

This group was founded in 1910 by Shams Din and his four sons Fazal Karim, Amin, Bashir and Shafi by setting up a small tannery in Amritsar. After independence they moved to Pakistan and were involved in cotton business. Now they owns sugar mills, textile, chemicals and also involved in computer software business.

[edit] Chakwal

Moved from East Pakistan in 1971 and started with textile mills. Now they own several textile mills, cement plat, and polyester fiber plant.

[edit] Colony

This group is the offshoot of Muhammad Ismaeel Maula Baksh Group, which was the biggest industrial group owned by Muslims in present-day Pakistan before independence. The group set up its first factory in 1889, first flour mill in 1908. At the time of partition comprised of 14 ginning and 4 flour mills.

[edit] Monnoo

This group was founded by two brothers Dost Mohammad and Nazir Hussain in 1940 by setting up Olympia Rubber Works at Calcutta. After partition they moved to Dhaka, East Pakistan. After 1971 they moved to Pakistan. Now this group owns several textile mills.

[edit] Furniture

Chiniot is rich in hand made wood furniture and it has artisan of all age groups who can compete internation wood furniture . This hand made carved furniture is exported now to all over the world and now in year 2006 it is the major local cottage industry.