About the Founder
Mohammad Aly Rangoonwala an indsutrialist and philanthropist was born on
May 20th 1924 in Rangoon. His father had trading and industrial activities in
Rangoon, Calcutta, Madras, Colombo, Singapore, Penang, Sourbaya and Batavia.
At the outbreak of World War II all investments were lost and the family
moved to Bombay. The young Mohammad Aly Rangoonwala quickly
re-established the family business and became well known amongst
the Bombay business community.
In 1946, his involvement with the Pakistan movement gathered
momentum and he worked closely with Mr. ABDULLAH H. HAROON
to encourage Muslims to establish business in Pakistan.
He was in contact with the nation's founder
Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah laid the foundation of the
first edible oil refinery in Pakistan at Karachi, which
M. A. Rangoonwala established with his associates.
M.A. Rangoonwala was a pioneer in the edible oil industry in Pakistan and prior to nationalization, had the largest group of edible oil refineries in Asia. He pioneered bulking terminals and cosmetics manufacturing in Pakistan. His knowledge of edible oils was amply put to test after nationalization when he participated with the Malaysian Government in the edible oil industry in Malaysia. He also established business organizations and charitable trusts in Europe and the Far East.
His contribution in the establishment of trade and industry in Pakistan is well known and he was also responsible for the Pakistan Trade Bodies Ordinance 1960. He was the Founder President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Founder President of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chairman National Bank of Pakistan, and President of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, further he was Founder and Chairman of the World Memon Foundation, Member of the Stanford Research Institute, International Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Trust, and Founder and Life President of the Dhoraji Association. In addition he was a founder member of the Karachi Stock Exchange, amongst the first Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan, Trustee of the Karachi Port Trust, and Hamdard Foundation. He served on several other boards of public and private organizations in Pakistan and abroad.
M. A. Rangoonwala had a passion for philanthropy, social work and education for the masses. In 1963, he established the V.M. Public School in Karachi in memory of his late father V.M. Gany and in 1967, the Zuleikhabai V.M. Gany Rangoonwala Community Centre and Trust as a public charitable institute. In all his philanthropic organizations, his motto has always been "Service to Humanity". The objectives of his charitable organizations are to help in the education and upliftment of indigent and deserving people regardless of race and religion.
The concept of the Community Centre, which he pioneered at the Rangoonwala Community Centre in Karachi has become a model concept for community centres not only in Pakistan but internationally. Today, the World Memon Foundation Community Centre in Husainabad, Karachi has in attendance over 16,000 women per quarter who come for vocational training.
In the 1960s, his public and private activities earned him the Sitara-e-Khidmat from the Government of Pakistan; Das Grosse Verdienst Kreutz from the German Government; the Order of the Silver Palm from the Boys Scout Organization, the International Businessman Award from the Stanford Research Institute and many others.