Mr. Anverali M. Rajpar
Chairman & Founder
Mr. Anverali Mohamedali Rajpar was born in Masasi, Tanzania on 27th June 1938.
He received his education at Lindi Primary School in Lindi and Central Secondary School, Dar es Salaam.
After completing his secondary education, he proceeded to London, U.K, to pursue studies in Chartered Accountancy.
He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1962 having stood 4th out of about 1800 students and enrolled as an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. He was later enrolled as a Fellow of the said Institute.
After qualification, he practiced as a Chartered Accountant in the field of audit, taxation and consultancy upto 1971 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania whereafter he migrated to Karachi, Pakistan and ventured into Ship Agency business with the founding of General Shipping Agencies (Pvt) Ltd at Karachi, Pakistan.
In 1986, after Port Qasim came into existence as a second port in Pakistan (mainly for bulk cargo) he, in consortium with other businessmen, formed a cargo handling company named Khan Bros & Associates (Consortium) Ltd to operate as Terminal Operator at Port Qasim to handle wheat, rice, pig iron and other commodities.
He was one of the founder members of Pakistan Ship’s Agents Association and held the position of Hon. Secretary for 16 years and Chairman for 1 year.
He was appointed by Federal Government of Pakistan to be a Board Member of Karachi Dock Labour Board from 1993 to 1996 and played a leading role in negotiating contracts with the port labour union as well as streamlining dock work practices.
From his early business life he took an active part in affairs of Khoja Shia Isnasheri community world-wide, especially in Pakistan. Since 1973 he co-founded of Mehfil-e-Murtaza (a religious center), Al Murtaza School and Zainabia Trust (a housing society formed to benefit under-privileged families). He served as Chairman and President of all these institutions for a number of years.
Mr. Anverali Rajpar also served as Secretary of Khoja (Pirhai) Shia Isna Asheri Jamaat, Karachi, Pakistan from 1978 to 1981. From 1982 to 1985, Mr. Anverali Rajpar was elected Vice President of The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities, London. He was an Elected Councillor for the term 2011 to 2014 and 2014 to 2017 and a Nominated Councillor for the term 2017 to 2020 on behalf of the Pakistan Federation of Khoja Shia Isnasheri Jamats.
In 1991 he co-founded JIBA International to serve as a Chamber of Commerce to promote the community’s mercantile interests.
For his multifarious social services, he received recognitions from all the institutions he served for bettering the lives of people.
With the liberalization of shipping industry in Tanzania, he founded General Shipping Agencies (T) Ltd in 1999 which he managed till 2003, when this company was merged in February 2003 with Seaforth Shipping Agencies Ltd to form Seaforth General Agencies Ltd. He was appointed as Managing Director of the said company, a position he still holds.
During the time he was living in Tanzania, he was instrumental in founding the country’s first private insurance company, first private leasing company and first private commercial bank all of which companies he chaired.
In Tanzania, he has also been active in business, philantrophic and social services. He was Chairman of Dar es Salaam Merchants Chamber for many years, a Board Member of Tanzania Private Sector Foundation, Member of the Executive Committee of Tanzania National Business Council and one of the founders of Tanzania Shipping Agents Association and has remained its Council Member and Vice President.
He has served as President of the Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam and is currently its Honorary Treasurer. All of these institutions have awarded him certificates of recognition.
Mr. Mohammed A. Rajpar
Managing Director
Managing Director of the company holds a M. Phil degree from Cambridge University. Mr. Mohammed A. Rajpar served as Honorary Secretary of Pakistan Ship’s Agents Association from 1995 to 2004.
He also served as Chairman for the terms 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2010-2011, 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 and as an Executive Committee Member for 2014-2015 and 2018-2019. In addition, Mr. Mohammed A. Rajpar was a Trustee of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) from March 2009 to December 2013, Board Member of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) from March 2006 to March 2014, Board Member of Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL) from June 2012 to May 2014, Board Member of Board of Investment (BOI) from January, 2013 to 14th May, 2015 and Board Member Karachi Dock Labour Board (KDLB) from December 1996 to December 2014 and Vice Chairman from 17th December, 2014 to 14th June, 2015.
He also served on the Gwadar Port Implementation Authority, Advisory Committee on Shipowning, the Planning Commission’s Task Force on Maritime Industry and the Prime Minister’s National Trade Corridor Improvement Programme.
He is currently Member Planning Commission Task Force on Trade Facilitation and Regional Connectivity since May 2015 and Member Executive Committee of the Pakistan National Committee of the ICC Pakistan since December 2013.
He was a Director of Pakistan German Business Forum (PGBF) from March 2014 to February 2019 and Advisor of Pakistan Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum (PBLBF) from March 2018 to March 2019. Currently he is Chief Executive since March 2019.
Ms. Ava A. Cowasjee
Director
Director of the company is a prominent personality of Pakistan’s shipping industry who completed her education from Covent of Jesus and Mary Karachi, Roedean School England, and Ecole Hotelier, Switzerland.
Thereafter she pursued Management training with the Forte Group England, and Intercontinental Hotel Karachi.
Subsequently she worked as Manager, Manpower Development at Intercontinental Hotel, Karachi, for four years before joining the Cowasjee family business.
She became Partner of the Cowasjee Group of Companies on 1st July 2000 having served for 29 years in various positions.
She is currently Director of HBL Asset Management Company since May 2016.
She has served as Director of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) from 21st May 2014 to 20th May 2017.
She has been the Chairperson of Pakistan Ships Agents Association (PSAA) for the terms 2009-2010, 2012-2013 and 2015-2016 having already served PSAA for ten years as an Executive Committee Member.
She has attended a number of conferences on shipping locally and abroad and has participated in advanced courses offered by Pakistan Institute of Management Sciences.
She has been a Member on the Executive Committee of Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) for the terms 2011-2012 & 2012-2013.
She is the Vice Chair of SOS Children’s Village of Sindh for the last ten years; Member, Managing Committee, Hermann Gmeiner School since 2012; Senate and Syndicate Member of NED University of Engineering and Technology since 2013 and Trustee of Cowasjee Foundation since 2009.