Bashir Ali Mohammad (born February 6, 1947) is a business leader in Pakistan who is chairman of the Gul Ahmed Group and the Pakistan - Britain Advisory Council. He is the son of the late Haji Ali Mohammad, the memon philanthropist and entrepreneur who introduced Pakistan’s first national branded drink Pakola.
Mohammad's major business interest is as chairman of the diversified Gul Ahmed Group which includes Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Limited, Gul Ahmed Energy Limited, Metropolitan Bank Limited, Swisstex Chemicals (Pvt) Limited, and Arwen Tech (Pvt) Limited. Bashir Ali Mohammad is also recognized for his efforts made to assist various government delegations with their negotiations in foreign countries. In the past he has been the chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association and served on the Export Promotion Bureau of Pakistan.
On Wednesday May 4, 2005 he suffered a heart attack on a flight to Colombo with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. He was to form part of a trade delegation1.
Over the years his family, due to its association with the Pakola beverage, had come to be known as Pakolawala’s. He is also on the fund raising board of the Aga Khan University Hospital. The family is recognized as being extremely charitable and conservative in nature and continues to assist Pakistan’s people with their charitable institutions, they are especially known for establishing medical centres and providing funds to enable people to acquire education and housing. The Gul Ahmed Group is also known for providing vast employment opportunities amongst the masses.
Bashir Ali Mohammad has also just recently been awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz. This is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a civilian. He received the award from Pakistan's President Musharraf 3.
On October 19, 2010, during the Annual Conference 2010 of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) in São Paulo/Brazil the Committee of Management of the Federation elected Mr. Bashir H. Ali Mohammad as the new President of the Federation for the next two years. He is the first Pakistani to hold this prestigious post.
^1 See The Nation news report May 6, 2005 "Bashir’s health improving".
^2 See The Dawn news report February 18, 2004 "Exporters cancel orders for machinery: EU duty on bedlinen"
^3 See The Dawn news report August 14, 2005 "President confers 192 civilian awards"