Imtiaz Rastgar

Being motivated from global and local happenings of the post World War II era, rise of Japan and Germany from the ashes of the War, he started a small business in 1964, from his hostel room at Hailey College of Commerce, working from an old family typewriter, a letter pad and a Post Office Box Number, with Rs. 500/- borrowed from his father.

Im­tiaz Rast­gar earned a diploma in metal cast­ing tech­nol­ogy from PITAC (Pak­istan In­dus­trial Tech­ni­cal As­sis­tance Cen­tre) La­hore in 1967. Foundry processes cap­ti­vated him so much that in spite of lack of re­sources, he founded Rast­gar Engineering.

The most important feat of EDB during Rastgar’s tenure was formulation of the first ever Automotive Industry Development Program (AIDP), a five year roadmap or framework (2007-2011) to foster development and growth of the automotive sector of Pakistan. In 2007, another important policy framework ‘Modernization of the Trucking Sector of Pakistan’ was developed under the guidance of Mr. Rastgar. Under his guidance, the de-regulation of the motorcycle sector saw production rise from 0.45 million in 2005 to 2.2 million per year in 2008, , while prices faell from Pak Rs. 75,000.00 to Pak Rs. 35,000.00. This helped create economic multipliers by starting large-scale motorization. Improved mobility has led to the creation of an upwardly mobile lower middle class; this in turn has positively impacted several sectors of Pakistan, most potently the retail sector. Owing to this initiative, the local auto parts manufacturing industry got a big boost, while also impacting self employment, agri economy etc in multiple ways.

Having built Rastgar Engineering into a large exporter of cargo truck parts, Export Development and international marketing of engineering goods and services was an area close to Mr. Rastgar’s heart. The prime objectives of the export marketing strategy at EDB, was to pitch and promote ‘Engineering Pakistan’ globally as a competitive outsourcing destination for engineering goods and services and give international exposure to the Pakistan engineering industry which hitherto have had not chartered into the export arena in an organized way. The idea of taking an organized group of engineering companies to the world’s leading engineering trade fair at Hannover, Germany, was put forth by Rastgar Engineering, during the visit of German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder,  to Pakistan (2004),where he witnessed a display of Pakistani engineering goods organized at the Serena Islamabad.

As CEO and Vice Chairman, he was influential in achieving the following initiatives:

1. The most important feat of EDB during Mr. Rastgar tenure was the formulation of the first-ever Automotive Industry Development Program (AIDP), a five-year roadmap or framework (2007-2011) to foster the development and growth of the automotive sector of Pakistan.
2. Pakistan Trade Corridor; Created the Trucking Policy in cooperation with all possible stakeholders in the goods movement chain on board.
3. De-bottle-necking the Motor Cycle Manufacturing Sector. That resulted in Motor Cycle Sector registering progress of over five times, from 450,000 units in 2005 to current 2.2 Million units and going to 5 Million Units. This initiative has created a vast multiplier effect for the Pakistani economy. Public transport is a bottleneck in unleashing the true potential of our public. Concurrently, the export of motorcycles from Pakistan planned, a steady export already started to happen. Also, with the large quantities are being manufactured, Pakistani motorcycle parts are now cheaper than the Chinese.
4. De-bottle-necking the white goods sector, as a result, some of the Pakistani companies started to export.
5. Mr. Rastgar’ contribution  formulated a vision and mission for EDB to become the driving force of Pakistan’s economic growth. Also, the institute of a sound springboard for the engineering industry and EDB to become a global force has had a far-reaching effect; by obtaining a five-year customs horizon 2007-200120 for the auto industry. Huge investments were made by car and truck assemblers in the increasing depth of indigenization within this sector.
6. SME Export Initiative: Scouted for suitable Engineering Sector SME Companies and converted many to become successful exporters.
7. European Recognition of Pakistan Engineering Sector: Debuted number of Pakistani Engineering Sector companies at the Messe Hannover from 2005 to 2007. That gave a boost to Pakistan’s image in Europe and at the same time mentored several Pakistani Commercial Counselors in the Export Potential of Pakistan’s Engineering Sector and how to get out of the cotton-based economy syndrome.
8. Road Shows held at Bochum Chamber of Commerce, Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce, and The Metaalunie. That increased interest in the European business community, but unfortunately, the second Martial Law of 2007 deterred this.
9. Auto Industry Development Plan; Created with an export focus and a view to doing away with discriminatory sores. Imports were to link to the export performance of local assemblers. A detailed presentation can be delivered on this initiative, which lost its shape in the subsequent changes at the EDB.
10. Tariff Rationalization leading to the competitiveness of local engineering industry and market expansion for Pakistani Engineering Goods.
11. Guided SMEDA and TDAP on Engineering Sector Market Expansion
12. Gap Analysis of local engineering industry and guide specialized processes through SES, PUM.
13. Initiated a large-scale Export Coaching Program together with the CBI, Dutch Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries.
14. Started following initiatives in the local engineering sector:

• Created Pakistani local design of a modern cotton gin, increasing production capacity, reducing power consumption, and reducing space requirement.
• Created vision for CNC Machine Tool Assembly and progressive manufacture in Pakistan.
• Launched initiative for local production of modern agricultural machinery by handholding local industries already involved in this.
• Recognized the Okara Sewing machine cluster for upgrading and handholding by GOP.
• Organized industrial ground surveys of engineering industries in Sahiwal, Okara, Sargodha, Bhalwal, Gadoon, and created initiatives for upgrading and value addition to existing industry clusters.

On the indigenization front, Mr. Rastgar steered local development of standardized ‘Gin Stand’ by putting together a group of private-sector entrepreneurs and representatives from R&D institutes and related government organizations like EDB, SMEDA, and TUSDEC. He also initiated the local development of six farm implements on similar lines.

Export development and international marketing of engineering goods and services was an area close to Mr. Rastgar’ heart, himself a large exporter of truck parts. The prime objectives of the export marketing strategy were to pitch and promote ‘Engineering Pakistan’ globally as a competitive outsourcing destination for engineering goods and services and give international exposure to the Pakistan engineering industry which hitherto have had not chartered into the export arena in an organized way.

The idea of taking an organized group of engineering companies to the world’s leading engineering trade fair at Hannover, Germany, was put forth by Mr. Rastgar during the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, visit Pakistan. There he witnessed a display of Pakistani engineering goods organized at the Serena Islamabad.

Hannover trade fair proved a high emblem for the Pakistan engineering sector as it exposed over 150 engineering companies to the global supply chain for the first time. Out of which over 50 industries entered into the export market and now supplying their products to countries like Germany, Netherlands, America, and South America, which apply stringent market access requirements. During the two-year stint of Mr. Rastgar, EDB led engineering delegations to Turkey and Korea and organized a roadshow in Europe to aggressively promote ‘Engineering Pakistan’.