He may have come across as intimidating to some but he was a gentle person who did not have an ego and who learned from his mistakes. But he was firm, fair and honest to the hilt.
He built IMC with his sweat and blood because he had seen the passion and toil of his other family members in the 80s in acquiring the licence to build Toyota cars in Pakistan. He had himself faced the travails of the bureaucracy in Islamabad before the IMC plant could be set up in Karachi.
Pursuit of Excellence
Dr. Azra Raza, President, Habib University Foundation, has expressed her views about the late Ali Habib. In a Youtube statement, she said,
“The stunning announcement of his (Ali Habib’s) death has left us incredulous and bewildered. His beloved wife, children and grandchildren, his sisters, uncles and cousins, his friends, are all mourning in the premature way he has been snatched from us. To the most honourable Rafiq Habib and to the house of the Habibs, we offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences at this loss. Ali’s profound love for his wife Manizeh is the stuff of legends. His deep commitment to the children has been inspiring.
“The Habib clan has produced one breathtaking philanthropist after another. The spirit of giving is in their DNA. With time, they set their sights on even higher goals and Ali Habib led the charge. The vision that he developed was more daring, more bold and more audacious. He reached for the stars and the Habib University is the result. This is the first liberal arts university that can compete with any Ivy League institution in America.
“How did Ali accomplish this? What raised him above the pomp and splendour of the privileged? Was it the gentleness of his manner, his inimitable charm combined with a steely resolve, his uncompromising attitude and pursuit of excellence, his devotion to friends, his sweet smile, his hearty laugh, his compassion and empathy? Yes, he was born a prince with the proverbial silver spoon yet it was not this inherited shahi but a unique faqiri of heart and soul – dard e dil – an ability to feel the pain of others that led to his humanitarian actions.
Aurun ka hai payam aur, mera payam aur hai
Ishq e dardmand ka tarz e kalam aur hai.”
Down the road, as Toyota became a popular brand and Pakistan’s number one locally manufactured automobile, there were still many challenges to be faced and Ali Habib and his team tackled them squarely – even driving to the plant everyday despite the government’s apathy in building the Malir 15 Bridge. Ali Habib wanted all motor vehicles made in Pakistan to be of the highest quality and made no compromises in producing Toyota cars.
He also championed the fair demands of the indigenous car industry and was instrumental in setting up PAMA – Pakistan Automobiles Manufacturing Association.
Ali built an impeccable reputation for quality and fairness and recognized the value of his employees. That is why he always told them not to be afraid of making mistakes.
A smart business leader whose advice and wisdom was sought-after by the business community and the government, he was also an outstanding philanthropist and urged all his companies to share their success with the deserving communities in the areas of health, education and the environment.
He headed the House of Habib, a business conglomerate that has several successful businesses functioning under it. Apart from heading Indus Motor Company (IMC), Pakistan’s leading automobile company that produces Toyota cars, Ali also served as a member on the board of directors of Thal Limited, Shabbir Tiles & Ceramics Limited, Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited and Metro Habib Cash and Carry Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited.
He was the founding chairman of the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) Pakistan Chapter and chairman of the Pakistan Business Council. He was also a member of the Board of Governors of Habib University and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust and a member of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Programme.
Having had his early education at Habib Public School, Ali Habib was a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, USA and also attended the Management Development Programme (MDP) at Harvard University.
True Gentleman
Ali Habib was Chair of the British Asian Trust’s Pakistan Advisory Council. Hearing of the sad news of Ali’s death, Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of the Trust, expressed his deep sorrow as well as that of HH the Prince of Wales in a message to all friends. He said he was deeply saddened by the news. He had first met Ali in 2016 when Ali and his wife Manizeh attended a private event with the Prince of Wales in Scotland.
He recalled that during his visits to Pakistan, Ali and his wife had hosted dinners in honour of the British Asian Trust. He said Ali was a true gentleman and however busy he would be, he would always have time to offer strategic advice and guidance to the British Asian Trust.
In his passing, Ali Habib has left behind a legacy of fair entrepreneurship seasoned with devotion and humility.
One always found him at the side of his wife Munizeh, sharing her interests in art and culture. Once, I invited them to attend a stage play by Naseeruddin Shah, as I serve on the Board of Directors, National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA). Anticipating that this would be a packed performance, I requested them to be there on time to ensure they got seats. I noticed them midway through the play, sitting on the floor at the side of the stage. I managed to catch Ali’s eye and beckoned to him to come nearer so that I could offer him my seat. Ali simply nodded in the negative and indicated he was okay sitting on the floor.
He was so right. After all, the ground is one’s final resting place. May his soul rest in peace. Ameen. 
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