A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra

textile executive at Kaltex Mexico

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra is the Executive Vice President (Global Operations), Sustainable Lean Manufacturing, at Kaltex Mexico. He worked in textiles in Pakistan for almost 29 years. He studied textile engineering at the University of Bolton, first a degree and then a master's.

Early life and background

Ganatra was born in Karachi in February 1965 and did his early schooling there. He belongs to a Memon clan whose family migrated from India in 1947, and the Ganatra surname comes from a Memon clan. His family were cotton growers in Ahmedabad and in the Gujarat and Surat areas. [1]

His family started in textiles in 1952, after migrating in 1947. He has said his family has worked in textiles for about 150 years. His father was a textile engineer. Ganatra spent about a year of his childhood in Germany because his father was studying there. [1]

His grandfather was one of the biggest industrialists in Pakistan and created a well-known area of Karachi. The grandfather was offered the Ministry of Commerce under Ayub Khan. Ganatra says his mother used to tell him he had to become something. He began helping his father in textiles. At about 14 he worked on a project involving a printing machine that had come from Holland. [1]

Education

Ganatra first attended a community school and completed his matriculation. He completed FSc in science at Karachi University, and his studies there were held at a college. He then did his graduation in commerce. He graduated in 1984. He joined the University of Bolton, which is near Manchester. [1]

Career

Ganatra returned to Pakistan in 1988. After graduating from Bolton he spent a year in trading. He joined the family company and stayed about 12 years in total. He says the family company was a very well-known supplier to the Pakistan Army, a pioneer of lawn around 1980 and a pioneer of knitted bedsheets. The family business made two labels, one of them for men's formal wear. [1]

He stayed with the family business until 2000. He wanted to start his own export business and was inspired by the Bonanza group. In 2000 he was approached about doing a project together. The partners financed the building and the work started from scratch. Within two years the company was producing for Levi's, and the operation also included denim, among other products. [1]

He took part in a plan to recycle PET bottles. He tried in 2007 or 2008, but the plan could not be carried out. He then joined Siddiqsons. He and his team started making T-shirts in what was called knitted denim. [1]

He says the factory took on well-known brands, including the French sports brand Decathlon, and that he was the one who brought those brands to Pakistan at that time. He estimates the new factory had about 1.5 billion in orders then. He reached a saturation point and felt he should do something else. [1]

Mexico

He said culture and language were challenges, because people there speak Spanish. He says he and his boss call each other by first name. He said the Chamber of Commerce in Mexico is strong and negotiates directly with the USA. [1]

Views

Ganatra said work is a form of worship and should be done through lawful earnings. He believes honesty comes first and money follows as a by-product. He has said that he is not a political person. [1]

On textiles, he said the focus should move toward value addition and that exports and textiles should be decentralized. He said the trade ministry should be based in Karachi, and that those in textile largely stayed in textile. He said denim is not good for health. [1]

Personal life

Ganatra married in 1990 and has four sons. He says he holds a black belt in Taekwondo. He said he had the experience of going and settling, of sorts, in Dubai. [1]

He said he is almost 58 years old. He said he may not set anything up and plans to help people. He offers to talk, at no cost, to people who call him. [1]

Timeline

1947
His family migrated from India.[1]
1952
His family started in textiles.[1]
1965
Born in Karachi in February.[1]
1984
Graduated.[1]
1988
Returned to Pakistan.[1]
1990
Married.[1]
2000
Stayed with the family business until this year and was approached about a project.[1]
2007
Tried a PET bottle recycling plan in 2007 or 2008, which could not be carried out.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2023-05-01 The Pakistani who fixed a broken denim factory in Mexico Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra?

A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra is the Executive Vice President (Global Operations), Sustainable Lean Manufacturing, at Kaltex Mexico. He worked in textiles in Pakistan for almost 29 years.[1]

Where did A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra study?

A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra completed FSc in science at Karachi University and then did his graduation in commerce. He joined the University of Bolton, which is near Manchester, and studied textile engineering there, first a degree and then a master's.[1]

Where is A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra from?

A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra was born in Karachi in February 1965 and did his early schooling there. He belongs to a Memon clan whose family migrated from India in 1947.[1]

How did A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra start his career?

A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra began by helping his father in textiles. After graduating from Bolton he spent a year in trading, and he then joined the family company, where he stayed about 12 years in total.[1]

Why did A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra move to Lahore?

A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra moved to Lahore with his family for a project that started with only land. He says one reason for the move was that Karachi had become insecure.[1]

What are A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra's views on textiles?

A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra said the focus should move toward value addition and that exports and textiles should be decentralized. He also said the trade ministry should be based in Karachi.[1]

References

  1. The Pakistani who fixed a broken denim factory in Mexico . Thought Behind Things , 2023-05-01.
Show the source passages (74 statements)
  1. He was born in Karachi and did his early schooling there. Meri paidaish Karachi ki hai aur schooling ibtedai taleem saari Karachi ki hai.
  2. He belongs to a Memon clan whose family migrated from India in 1947. we belong to a certain clan of Memons. If you know Memons we migrated from India in 47.
  3. His family were cotton growers in Ahmedabad and in the Gujarat and Surat areas. we were growers growing cotton in Ahmedabad and these areas Gujarat Surat that area
  4. His family started in textiles in 1952, after migrating in 1947. they migrated in 47 they started textile in 1952.
  5. He has said his family has worked in textiles for about 150 years. 150 saal se hum textile mein hain.
  6. He was born in February 1965. I was born in February 65 my father was already there
  7. He spent about a year of his childhood in Germany because his father was studying there. one year of my childhood was in Germany because my father was studying in Germany.
  8. His father was a textile engineer. Wo mere father was also textile engineer also.
  9. He first attended a community school. Wahan se phir maine pehle schooling ki that was in community school.
  10. He completed his matriculation. So iske baad schooling matric system tha matric kar liya.
  11. He began helping his father in textiles. I joined my my father in in helping in textile.
  12. At about 14 he worked on a project involving a printing machine that had come from Holland. Aur jo maine wo kaam kiya tha 14 years mein wo yehi tha ke printing machine aayi thi Holland se.
  13. He completed FSc in science at Karachi University. phir maine Karachi University mein FSc kiya science mein.
  14. He then did his graduation in commerce. Phir maine graduation ki commerce mein.
  15. He graduated in 1984. then 84 mein main graduate kar gaya tha.
  16. He joined the University of Bolton, which is near Manchester. Manchester and Bolton is like very near. So I joined University of Bolton.
  17. He studied textile engineering at the University of Bolton, first a degree and then a master's. In 84 and did my textile engineering from there. First graduation and then masters.
  18. After graduating from Bolton he spent a year in trading. that was trading for whole one year, even after graduating from Bolton.
  19. He joined the family company and stayed about 12 years in total. Mill Hussain Industries Limited hamara tha setup. Usi mein maine join kiya and, uh, in total I stayed 12 years over there.
  20. He says the family company was a very well-known supplier to the Pakistan Army. Hussain was very famous supplier to Pak Army.
  21. He says the family company was a pioneer of lawn around 1980. 80 mein humne apni lawn Hussain ki lawn jo abhi lawn aap dekhte hain we were the pioneers in that time.
  22. He says the family company was a pioneer of knitted bedsheets. Even in Hussain, we were pioneer in the knitted bedsheets.
  23. The family business made two labels, one of them for men's formal wear. we made these labels, uh, ek ka naam tha Route 97, jo men's ka formal tha, dusra tha Take One.
  24. He stayed with the family business until 2000. And, uh, I stayed with family till 2000.
  25. He wanted to start his own export business. Phir apna export karne ka shauk hua.
  26. He was inspired by the Bonanza group. So I was inspired by Bonanza a lot, kyunki, uh, Haji Haroon Bilwani sahab wahan hote the.
  27. In 2000 he was approached about doing a project together. That was in 2000. Toh woh sahabzade aaye toh unhone kaha ki hum karte hain milke.
  28. The partners financed the building and the work started from scratch. Toh they got good money, so they financed the building. We start from scratch.
  29. Within two years the company was producing for Levi's. within two years we bring Levi's into Pakistan. Achha. We produce for Levi's at that time.
  30. The operation also included denim, among other products. Ji, denim bhi tha usmein, aur bhi cheezein thi, dated woh saari cheezein.
  31. He took part in a plan to recycle PET bottles. Humne pet bottles ko recycle karne ka plan kiya.
  32. He tried in 2007 or 2008, but the PET bottle recycling plan could not be carried out. 2007-8 mein maine koshish ki. Lekin hum nahi kar sake, kyunki woh jin logon se humein dealing karni thi
  33. He then joined Siddiqsons. Phir main Siddiqsons join ki maine.
  34. He and his team started making T-shirts in what was called knitted denim. Aur humne t-shirts aur ye cheezein humne banani shuru ki. So, that was called knitted denim.
  35. He took on a project that started with only land, on which a building had to be built, machines installed and marketing done. ke sirf zameen hai, uspe building banani hai, usme machinein daalni hain, usko start karna hai, uski marketing karni hai, sab kuch kaam karna hai.
  36. The new factory was 100% export. Nahi, export, export, 100% export, 100% export.
  37. He moved to Lahore with his family for this project. Toh I shifted to Lahore for this project with all my family.
  38. He says one reason for the move was that Karachi had become insecure. Ek reason uske peeche chota sa ye bhi tha ke Karachi aapko pata hai bahut insecure ho chuka tha.
  39. He says the factory took on well-known brands, including the French sports brand Decathlon. humne bade acche-acche brands, uh ek French uh sports brand hai Decathlon.
  40. He says he was the one who brought those brands to Pakistan at that time. So, I was the one who bring them to Pakistan at that time.
  41. He reached a saturation point and felt he should do something else. Toh again woh ek saturation point aa gaya aur phir mehsoos hua ke kuch sochein, kuch karein.
  42. He estimates the new factory had about 1.5 billion in orders at that time. So, at that time, I think we have uh 1.5 billion or something orders in that new factory.
  43. A chemical supplier mentioned a plant in Mexico and suggested he survey it. Uh ye hua ke ek chemical supplier ne zikr kiya ke ji wahan Mexico mein ek plant hai, usko aap survey karein.
  44. He went through eight interviews, starting with the hiring agency. So I go through 8 interviews starting from hiring agency
  45. He said the plant was producing 8 million meters per month. they were producing 8 million meters per month at that plant.
  46. He said the company size was 2.3 billion. The company size was 2.3 billion.
  47. When he went to see the plant, it was in very bad shape. Uh toh wahan jaake dekha toh plant was in a very bad shape.
  48. He is Executive Vice President (Global Operations), Sustainable Lean Manufacturing, at Kaltex Mexico. A. Rauf Razzak Ganatra is the Executive Vice President (Global Operations) Sustainable Lean Manufacturing at Kaltex Mexico.
  49. He worked in textiles in Pakistan for almost 29 years. So, like almost 29 years in Pakistan, all the way textile, I never did anything else.
  50. He says he and his boss call each other by first name. mera boss mujhe first name se call karta hai, main usko bhi first name se call karta hoon.
  51. He said culture and language were challenges, because people there speak Spanish. Another challenge was culture, language, they speak Spanish.
  52. He said work is a form of worship and should be done through lawful earnings. Hamari ek ibadat hai kaam aur us kaam mein bhi rizq-e-halal ke tareeqe se.
  53. He said the Chamber of Commerce in Mexico is strong and negotiates directly with the USA. Mexico mein jo maine bahut badi baat dekhi wahan ka jo Chamber of Commerce hai they are so strong they negotiate directly with USA.
  54. He said the focus should move toward value addition. Value addition ki taraf jana chahiye.
  55. He said exports and textiles should be decentralized. we should decentralize exports and textiles.
  56. He said the trade ministry should be based in Karachi. Trade ministry Karachi mein honi chahiye
  57. He said he may not set anything up and plans to help people. No, maybe I am not going to set anything. I am going to help people, that's it.
  58. He offers to talk, at no cost, to people who call him. aap free of cost aap call karein baat karein
  59. He said he is almost 58 years old. I am like all my life I am almost 58 right now
  60. His grandfather was offered the Ministry of Commerce under Ayub Khan. Even mere grandfather ko Ayub Khan ke daur mein Ministry of Commerce offer bhi thi.
  61. His grandfather was one of the biggest industrialists in Pakistan. my grandfather, he is one of the biggest industrialists in Pakistan. His name was Latif Ibrahim Jamal.
  62. His grandfather created a well-known area of Karachi. My grandfather created Hussainabad still a very famous place in Karachi
  63. The Ganatra surname comes from a Memon clan. Okhai Memon clan mein jiska surname Ganatra wahin se nikalta hai.
  64. He says his mother used to tell him he had to become something. So my mother used to tell me you have to become this you have to become this.
  65. He believes honesty comes first and money follows as a by-product. Aur sabse pehle honesty koi bhi kaam aap karenge paisa aapko aa jayega. Matlab for us paisa is a byproduct.
  66. He has said that he is not a political person. Again as I told you we are not political people.
  67. He said denim is not good for health. Denim is not good for health.
  68. He says he holds a black belt in Taekwondo. But I'm Taekwondo black belt.
  69. He has four sons. And I got all four boys.
  70. He married in 1990. iske baad '90 mein meri shaadi hui.
  71. He returned to Pakistan in 1988. jab main wapas aya Pakistan '88 mein
  72. He said he had the experience of going and settling, of sorts, in Dubai. I had the experience of going and settling of sorts in Dubai.
  73. His Karachi University studies were held at a college. Basically it was Karachi University on the top but it was a National College Bahadurabad pe hota tha.
  74. He said those in textile largely stayed in textile. textile wala textile mein hi raha.