Honorary Consul of Poland for Punjab & MD & CEO - Allied Marketing Pvt. Limited

EVOLVE: Congratulations Mr. Ahmad Hasnain on your recent appointment as Honorary Consul of Poland for Punjab – How do you feel about it? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: It is indeed a distinct honor to thank the Ambassador, Mr. Piotr Opalinski, for bestowing upon me the honorary position of Consul of Poland for Punjab, Pakistan. I am humbled by his confidence and trust in me. I am aware of the importance of this assignment as diplomatic representatives can make a significant difference to the facts and optics of either country.

EVOLVE: How has the relationship between Pakistan and Poland evolved over years? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: The relationship between Pakistan and Poland goes back a long time. It was Pakistan’s Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan that approached Poland and Poland reciprocated and established its embassy in Karachi in December of 1962. Pakistan established its embassy in Warsaw in 1969 and became one of the first Muslim countries to establish diplomatic relations with Poland. In the 1940’s, a number of Polish families had migrated to the sea port of Karachi. Many of them, the Polish intellectuals, scientists, and technicians, became citizens of Pakistan in 1947. Many of us are probably not aware that some of these Polish academics joined the faculty of Karachi University and the likes of Władysław Turowicz, a Polish-Pakistani aviator, military scientist and aeronautical engineer, along with thirty Polish officers and technicians, contributed to and assisted in the establishment of the Pakistan Air Force, which is today one of the finest in the world. General Turowicz, who became Deputy Chief of Air Staff in the PAF also set up technical institutes, notably the Air Force Institute of Aviation Technology in Karachi. 

Polish officers also actively assisted in the Indo Pakistan war of 1965. Polish scientists also helped Pakistan’s space programme. Poland’s contribution to the fundamentals of Pakistan was no small effort. It was more recently under President Musharraf that Pakistan Poland relations gained new impetus. President Musharraf visited Poland in 2007 and was hosted by President Lech Kaczynski of Poland. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan under its ‘Develop Eastern Europe’ strategy, took close interest in export to Poland and held various exhibitions and fairs beginning with the Single Country exhibition in May of 2001 in Warsaw, personally led by Tariq Ikram the then Minister of State and Chairman of the then Export Promotion Bureau (now TDAP). As it is said… ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’,…Poland was one of the chief contributors to Pakistan during the 2005 earthquake.

EVOLVE: What are the main tourist attractions in Poland and how do you plan to promote tourism between the two countries? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: Another sector capable of improving a closer relationship between the two countries is tourism. Tourist attractions in Poland vary, from the mountains in the south to the sandy beaches in the north, with a trail of nearly every architectural style. Kraków, the former capital of Poland, serves as a relic of the Polish Golden Age of Renaissance and a major tourist attraction. Poland is recognized as the sixteenth most visited country in the world offering outdoor activities such as skiing, sailing and mountain hiking, as well as agro tourism. Similarly, Pakistan, presenting the rich historical heritage of one of the most ancient civilizations in human history, projects priceless pearls of the past, through the ages. Similarly, Pakistan is one of the most beautiful countries in Asia, with rich geographical diversities, historical heritage and matchless natural beauty waiting to be discovered. Whether it’s the enormous icy peaks of the K2, or the lush green meadows and crystal clear waters of KPK or the mysterious rocky mountains of Balochistan, or the rich and festive culture and history of the Punjab; the city life of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, the natural beauty, and hospitality of Pakistanis, all have so much to offer. You are well aware of the maxims evolved by the Lahoris e.g:- “Lahore is Lahore '', or “Whoever has not seen Lahore has yet to be born”. I will explore opportunities to increase tourism by getting selected and leading travel agents and tour operators from the two countries to interact and exchange information to encourage tourists to visit.

EVOLVE: On Nationalism & Identity of Poland, what would you like to say? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: “Geopolitics is the chief architect of the Polish character.” The Polish population is 38 million compared with nearly 10 million swedes, 81 million Germans, 10 million Czechs, 5 million Slovaks, 44 million Ukrainians, 10 million Belarussians, 3 million Lithuanians, 144 million Russians, 64 million British, and 321 million Americans. Poland is 1½ times the size of Spain and a bit smaller than German, but could fit into Russia 54 times. “Most of Poland is a flat open plain described by military experts as an ideal spot for a battlefield.” Poland has been fought on or over at some time or another by virtually every country in Europe, including, amazing as it may seem, Sweden, and for whole centuries at a time it disappeared off the map altogether. Today Poland is vibrantly independent and planning to stay that way. The only invasions it anticipates, or hopes for, are from tourists, and investors. It has played a major role in European history but it’s being ruled by foreign powers in the nineteenth century and during the Cold War eclipsed Poland in the minds of many. 

Throughout its history it has been a meeting place of many cultures and has given the world the poetry of Czeslaw Milosz, the music of Chopin, and the scientific discoveries of Copernicus and Marie Curie, to name but a few. Poland had enjoyed a Golden Age in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries but a gradual decline then led to Poland losing its autonomy ….yet the spirit of the country and its people lived on. Poland has gradually regained its rightful place in Europe, joining NATO in 1999 and the EU in May 2004. The radical change since 1990 in the entire spectrum of the socio-economic fabric of Poland was miraculous. The views of the then Editor of Gazeta, Adam Michnik, were proven right when he said, “1989 was the most successful revolution since the American Revolution”.

EVOLVE: Any comparison / statistics you would like to share between Poland and Pakistan? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: A brief comparison with Pakistan would show that Polish people live 9.6 years longer, spend 25.4 times more on health care, earn 6.8 times more money than Pakistanis, consume 11.3 times more electricity, consume 6.8 times more oil, and have 57.87% less babies than Pakistanis!

EVOLVE: What is the current level of trade between the two countries and what are the opportunities which Pakistan must explore? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: During the year 2016, Poland’s trade volume with Pakistan stood at around Rupees 48 billion, whereby, Pakistan’s exports to Poland ranged more than 150 million US Dollars, while the imports from Poland averaged 100 million US Dollars. In many ways, Poland is recognized as a regional economic leader within East-Central Europe, nearly 40 percent of the 500 biggest companies in the region. The energy sector, extractive industries and agriculture in Pakistan hopes to gain considerably from the expertise of our Polish friends. Two Polish companies are currently working in Pakistan sharing their proficiency in the exploration of gas. However, there is much more to be reaped from a more robust understanding of each other’s potentials specially chain stores such as ‘Geant’ and ‘Komfort’.

EVOLVE: What is going to be your roadmap / mission in discharging your responsibility as Honorary Consul of Poland in Punjab? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: With strong and stable relations at the center of Poland’s foreign policy, my relentless mission would be to actively pursue an increase in Poland’s footprint in Pakistan and more specifically in the Punjab and vice versa. As part of my mandate, I would play an active role in establishing people to people contact from Punjab to promote, accelerate, develop and facilitate bilateral relations through trade, commercial and economic activities, cultural exchange programs, tourism and education encouraging mutually beneficial outcomes for the people of the two friendly nations. I am sure the vibrant Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Punjab Board of Investment, TDAP and SMEDA will all provide the necessary support. Based on identified current and potential export sectors of Punjab and Poland, I would aim to select 20 mature exporters and importers of each sector and personally create interest and passion in improving trade with Poland in mutual interest.

EVOLVE: Any concluding remarks you would like to make? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: Before I conclude, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest gratitude to all of you for being with us today and reiterate my strong and heartfelt belief that in the days ahead, we will witness a surge in investments, co-operation and transfer of knowledge - giving a new momentum to the enduring relations between our two nations. And I feel enthusiastic in saying… Today We Are Together Towards Tomorrow!

EVOLVE: Let us know the road map of your professional journey since inception and what made you choose a certain path which led you to this profession? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: Ahmad Hasnain: Our family business carries the distinction of being the first Pakistani business house to attain more than 100 years of operations in this community. That is my heritage & I built on it with 12 years of schooling at Aitchison College, followed by B.Com from Hailey College of Commerce of Punjab University, going on to obtain an MBA in Marketing from LUMS in 1989. In my final semester at LUMS I received job offers from Siemens Engg & Philips Electrical. I chose to enter our family’s 91-year-old distribution business in 1989 as GM. In 1995 I became Deputy MD, and in 2001 I was made Managing Director & CEO of Allied Marketing. I try to contribute to activities of trade bodies and I currently serve as Executive Committee Member of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Board of Investment and am also Member of General Assembly, India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry. I also currently serve the Punjab Board of Investment & Trade as a member of the Senior Advisory Council and SMEDA as Consultant.

EVOLVE: Tell our readers about Allied Marketing, its services, especially its achievements and future plans? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: Before I mention our vision and mission, our company already possesses significant firsts: 

1. The FIRST organized distribution setup in the sub-continent.
2. The FIRST private limited company registered after independence.
3. The distinction of being Pakistan’s FIRST income tax assesse 

Allied Marketing has specialized in the distribution of products and services since 1898, providing distribution services before Partition to Imperial Tobacco Company of India, Lever Brothers India, Lipton India & ICI India. Post 1947, we have been associated with leading companies like Pakistan Tobacco Company, Unilever Pakistan, Lipton Ltd, ICI Pakistan, Shell Pakistan, Packages Ltd, Abbott, & Glaxo.

As such, our vision is to become the most trust-worthy and professionally-managed strategic partner of our business associates and our mission is continuous improvement to achieve our concept of Service-Plus. We practice three core values: All employees, regardless of rank or status, deserve due respect; we value the exercise of initiative, integrity and teamwork; we value those who accept responsibility willingly. Regarding future plans I see my business ten years down the road as a totally professional managed business with no operational role for the family shareholders including myself, on a family board role limited to strategy and policy making having an international footprint, and innovating through our core competence in distribution.

EVOLVE: How effective do you perceive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: We prefer to keep our humble contributions in education & health out of the public domain. 

EVOLVE: Are there any particular practices that you want to share with the world in order to make Pakistani business more productive? 

Mr. Ahmad Hasnain: The answer requires a breadth of knowledge concerning religious interventions, foreign affairs, monetary policy, and national debt management that I do not pretend to have. Pakistan is suffering from two acute ailments, a lack of security and underdevelopment. It needs to develop to be secure; and conversely, it needs to be secure to develop. The worrisome issue, however, is a sharp deterioration in the quality of governance and no reversal of trends. I feel we need to focus on three things:

1. Fair access to foreign markets. We need trade diplomacy rather than war diplomacy. Our trade diplomacy has been really weak. We are the world’s best makers of jeans and can export up to 15 – 20 billion dollars. In textiles, we can surpass Bangladesh, India and Sri-Lanka.
2. Access to our own domestic market must be given. The formal sector is destroying our economy due to which we are unable to avail economies of scale. A level playing field for the formal organized sector can be brought about by enforcing a universal tax culture.
3. We must exploit our natural resources. Pakistan has the 2nd largest salt mine, 5th largest gold mine, 5th largest coal reserves, we are the 4th largest rice producer and 5th largest wheat producer – Just Imagine.