Shahzada Alam Monnoo

Shahzada Alam Monnoo (1936 – 18 November 2014) was a Pakistani industrialist and politician. He served as Federal Minister of Commerce, Textile Industry, Privatization and Investment between 15 November 2007 and 25 March 2008. He died on 18 November 2014.

Biography

Monnoo was born in 1936 into the well-known Chinyoti business clan.^[1] His sister is married to Mian Habib Ullah, who also served as a Minister in Benzair's tenure and Mr Habib Ullah is a former President of FPCCI and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and current Honorary Consul-General of Cyprus in Pakistan. Mr Monnoo initially studied in Welham Boys School, Dehradun and had to leave in 1947 and then shifted to Aitchison College in Lahore and later, the College of Textiles at NC State College North Carolina, United States.^[2]

In 1965, he introduced the first Toyota Motors assembly plant in Karachi, then known as Monnoo Toyota Motors. However the industry was nationalized by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1971, along with many others. Monnoo has since become highly influential in the textile sector in Pakistan, becoming the president of Monnoo Group of Industries, which owns a number of diversified industries in Pakistan. He is the owner of roughly 20 mills in Pakistan and has served as chairman of the APTMA (All Pakistan Textile Mills Association) and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.^[2] Based in Lahore, although the Monnoo Group has diversified into agricultural farming and mango production in recent years, the company is concentrated in the textiles and sugar industry.

He served as Federal Minister of Commerce, Textile Industry, Privatization and Investment for Pakistan between 15 November 2007 and 25 March 2008 and is involved in the city government in Lahore.

Monnoo is also noted for his work in healthcare in Pakistan and has made considerable contributions towards the Business Hospital Trust, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, and Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Lahore.^[2] He has also established several mosques in the country.^[2] His son, Shahbaz Monnoo, is married to the granddaughter of Syed Wajid Ali. Shahzada Alam Monnoo has been appointed as Federal Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry in the Caretaker set up of the Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro. He served as Chairman, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and remained President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.He also contributed in various sectors as Director-National Fibres Limited, Director-Pakistan Industries Credit and Investment Corporation Limited,Member, Board of Governors, Aitchison College, Lahore, Member, Board of Governors, Postgraduate Medical Institute/Services Hospital, Lahore and Director, Trust for Voluntary Organization, Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Monnoo Family is a traditional name in Pakistan that has been the story of success for the industrial growth of the country. He died on Tuesday November 18, 2014 in Lahore.

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