Born in 1961 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Asad Umar, the Central Senior Vice President, is currently one of the most prominent leaders of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf.
His father was an Army officer and his family has a long history of military career. He is the youngest among 7 siblings. Umar graduated as an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi in 1984. Although he is a renowned political figure, he is equally famous and respected because of his role and contribution in Pakistan’s corporate sector.
Career Before Politics
Umar’s 27-year career at Engro began in 1985, when the company was still a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, the global oil giant. He joined the company as a business analyst, and was working for it abroad in Canada when the famous management buyout of Engro took place in 1991.
Umar came back to Pakistan and in 1997 was appointed the first CEO of Engro Polymer & Chemicals, the group’s petrochemical arm. Later, he was elected as the President and CEO of Engro Corporation in January 2004 after which he transformed the business from a mere chemical company to a giant conglomerate. It was his idea to diversify into dairy and food business and today ‘Engro Foods’ stand as the highest profit producing subsidiary of Engro Corporation.
It was during his tenure when Engro became the first Pakistani company to buy a business entity abroad when the company earlier in 2012 bought Canadian based food company ‘Al Safa Halal’.
On March 8 2009, Mr. Asad Umar received the Marketing Association of Pakistan (MAP) Award of Excellence for 2009, in recognition of his contributions to the field of Marketing & Management and his positive role in Pakistan’s economy.
He was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz, by the Government of Pakistan for his public service in 2010 for his public service and engagement in promoting the cause of Pakistan through investments, social service and more. By the time of his early retirement at the age of 50 in 2012, Asad Umar had become Pakistan’s most successful and highest paid CEO.
What He Has To Say About His Success
Asad Umar can easily be counted among the most successful and well-known figures in the country. However, when asked what he has to say about it, he simply credits luck to be the most important factor of his overwhelming success.
Apart from fate, he believes one really needs to find something they are passionate about so they can find the drive to work hard. After that is done, he believes that one needs to evaluate to see if they are good at what they have chosen to work for. This, he says, is where his luck counted the most.
Why Did He Leave The Corporate World To Join PTI
Asad Umar felt that there was space to create a positive impact in trying to make a difference in Pakistan by participating in mainstream politics by joining PTI in 2012. He was made Central Senior Vice President of PTI the same year.
Asad Umar believes that fundamental change in the system can only come through elected representatives in the National Assembly. This is because the right people come up with and implement right policies, contributing to every individual’s rights being protected and therefore contributing to a society based on justice and equality.
History with PTI
At PTI, he is part of committee to work on a draft paper to suggest economic reforms to take Pakistan out of current financial crisis. Recently, PTI Chairman Imran Khan appointed him head of Media and Marketing. He also chairs the PTI Policy Council. He is an elected MNA from NA 48 Islamabad (2013).
Awards and Achievements
Chairman:
- Pakistan business council
- Pakistan energy and chemical skill development company
- All Engro subsidiaries
Director:
- State Bank of Pakistan
- Karachi Stock Exchange
- Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC)
- Pakistan State Oil (PSO)
- Port Qasim Authority
- Genco holding Company
- Dawood Hercules
- Karachi School for Business & leadership (KSBL)
- Pakistan Center for Philanthropy
- Director Pakistan Dairy Development Company
Memberships:
- Member Prime Minister Committee on Agriculture
- Member Sindh Information Technology board
- Member Sindh Endowment Fund for preservation of physical heritage in Sindh
- Chapter Chair Young Presidents Organization Pakistan Chapter
- Member Board of trustees LUMS
- Member staff & faculty selection committee IBA Karachi
- Asad Umar speeches in the national assembly from sept 2013 till date special / cause based tv interviews and programs
- An archive of photographs, covering all the important events being MNA NA-48, PTI politician and a national leader
