Saif Group

Saif Group is a diversified Pakistani business group headquartered in Islamabad and controlled primarily by the Saifullah Khan family. Its activities span electricity generation, textile manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications infrastructure, oil and gas exploration, and property development. Rather than functioning as a single consumer-facing product brand, the group operates through a portfolio of listed and unlisted companies, joint ventures, and operating affiliates. The group's industrial history reaches back to the 1920s, when Khan Faizullah Khan, a landowner and government contractor from Lakki Marwat, acquired the Bannu Electric Supply Company in 1927. The business expanded under his son, Saifullah Khan, who added an army-supply canning operation during the Second World War. After Saifullah Khan's death in 1964, Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan led the family enterprise until 1990 and oversaw its transition into modern industrial businesses. Her initiatives included the incorporation of Kohat Textile Mills in 1967 and the establishment of a spinning operation that began commercial production in 1970. Textiles became one of the group's principal industrial activities. Saif Textile Mills was incorporated in 1989 and began production at the Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 1992. Kohat Textile Mills and the Egypt-based Mediterranean Textile Company later broadened the group's yarn-manufacturing footprint. Saif Textile Mills and Kohat Textile Mills are associated with the Pakistan textile sector, while Mediterranean Textile Company produces cotton yarn in Egypt. Saif Group also developed a significant presence in telecommunications. In 1994, it formed Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited with Motorola. The venture launched Mobilink, described in the reference material as South Asia's first GSM cellular service. Motorola's interest was later acquired by Orascom Investment Holding, and Orascom ultimately purchased Saif Group's remaining Mobilink stake in 2007. The group retained a role in communications infrastructure through Trans World Associates, which began operating the TW1 submarine fibre-optic cable in 2006. The 1,300-kilometre system connected Karachi with Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and Al Seeb in Oman. Power generation is another major business. Saif Power Limited was incorporated in 2004 as an independent power producer under Pakistan's Power Policy 2002. Its 225-megawatt dual-fuel combined-cycle thermal plant in Qadarabad, Sahiwal District, entered commercial operation in 2010 under a long-term power purchase agreement with the National Transmission & Despatch Company. The agreement was subsequently revised, including changes to dollar indexation and the payment structure. The healthcare arm, Saif Healthcare Limited, was incorporated in 1996 and converted into a public company in 2009. It operates Kulsum International Hospital in Islamabad, a private hospital with a strong cardiology focus. The group has also participated in oil and gas exploration through Saif Energy and in urban development through Eighteen Islamabad, a large planned residential and commercial project developed with Ora Developers and Kohistan Builders & Developers. Overall, Saif Group's positioning is that of a family-controlled Pakistani investment and operating group with long-running industrial roots and a portfolio concentrated in infrastructure, essential services, manufacturing, and real assets.

Saif Group's roots are traced to the 1920s in Lakki Marwat, in what was then the North-West Frontier Province of British India. Khan Faizullah Khan, a landowner and major government contractor, acquired the Bannu Electric Supply Company in 1927. That transaction gave the family an early position in electricity supply and established a foundation for later industrial diversification. His son, Saifullah Khan, expanded the enterprise during the Second World War by creating a canning business that supplied the British Indian Army. When Saifullah Khan died in April 1964, the family business passed to his widow, Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan. She led the group from 1964 to 1990 and played a central role in its move toward formal industrial companies. In 1967, she incorporated Kohat Textile Mills, a spinning unit in Saifabad, Kohat. The mill began commercial production in 1970. The group's textile platform expanded with Saif Textile Mills Limited, incorporated in 1989. The company established a spinning plant at the Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate in Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and commenced commercial operations on 1 January 1992. Saif Holdings Limited was incorporated on 4 February 1993 to consolidate family investments in subsidiaries and associated companies. Telecommunications became a major area of expansion in the 1990s. In June 1994, Saif Group joined Motorola in forming Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited. The company launched Mobilink, a GSM cellular network that became an important early mobile operator in Pakistan. Motorola's stake was acquired by Orascom Investment Holding in February 2001, and Orascom purchased the remaining Saif Group interest in June 2007. The group subsequently maintained a telecommunications-infrastructure presence through Trans World Associates. In 2006, that affiliate began operating TW1, a 1,300-kilometre submarine fibre-optic cable linking Karachi, Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, and Al Seeb in Oman. It was described as Pakistan's first private-sector submarine cable network. Healthcare was formalized through Saif Healthcare Limited, incorporated on 3 October 1996 and converted into a public company in 2009. The business operates Kulsum International Hospital in Islamabad. The hospital was established in 2011 as a 67-bed facility focused particularly on cardiology and was later expanded to 100 beds. The power business was organized through Saif Power Limited, incorporated in 2004 as an independent power producer under Pakistan's Power Policy 2002. The company developed a 225-megawatt dual-fuel combined-cycle thermal plant at Qadarabad in Sahiwal District, Punjab. The facility began commercial operations on 30 April 2010 under a 30-year power-purchase agreement with the National Transmission & Despatch Company. The original agreement included a sovereign guarantee, a stated return on equity, and United States dollar indexation. Its terms were revised in 2020, including the removal of dollar indexation, and were revised again in December 2024 to introduce a hybrid take-and-pay structure. Saif Group broadened its textile operations internationally through Mediterranean Textile Company, incorporated in January 2006 as a joint venture with an Egyptian partner. Based near Alexandria, the company produces cotton yarn. The group also developed energy-exploration interests through Saif Energy Limited, which holds interests in several exploration blocks with other companies, including Oil and Gas Development Company, Mari Energies, and Tullow Oil. In real estate, Saif Group partnered with Ora Developers, associated with Egypt's Sawiris family, and Kohistan Builders & Developers to develop Eighteen Islamabad. Launched in December 2017, the project is a large planned residential and commercial development near Islamabad International Airport. In August 2020, a consortium involving Saif Energy announced the Togh Bala-1 gas and condensate discovery in the Kohat exploration block. Saif Group therefore developed from a regional family enterprise into a multi-sector Pakistani group with activities across manufacturing, infrastructure, services, energy, and property.

• 2020

  Togh Bala-1 discovery announced

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  A consortium including Saif Energy announced a gas and condensate discovery in the Kohat exploration block.

• 2017

  Eighteen Islamabad launched

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Saif Group and its development partners launched the Eighteen Islamabad mixed-use project.

• 2010

  Saif Power plant begins commercial operation

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 225-megawatt Qadarabad combined-cycle thermal power plant began commercial operations on 30 April.

• 2006

  TW1 submarine cable enters operation

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Trans World Associates began operating the privately developed TW1 submarine fibre-optic cable.

• 2004

  Saif Power established

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Saif Power Limited was incorporated as an independent power producer under Pakistan's 2002 power policy.

• 1996

  Saif Healthcare incorporated

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Saif Healthcare Limited was incorporated to develop the group's healthcare operations.

• 1994

  Mobilink joint venture formed

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Saif Group and Motorola incorporated Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited, which launched Mobilink's GSM service.

• 1993

  Saif Holdings established

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Saif Holdings Limited was incorporated to consolidate the family's investments.

• 1992

  Saif Textile Mills begins production

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Gadoon Amazai spinning operation commenced commercial production on 1 January.

• 1989

  Saif Textile Mills incorporated

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Saif Textile Mills Limited was incorporated before establishing production at Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate.

• 1967

  Kohat Textile Mills incorporated

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan incorporated Kohat Textile Mills, which began commercial spinning production in 1970.

• 1927

  Acquisition of Bannu Electric Supply Company

  [1]Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Khan Faizullah Khan acquired the Bannu Electric Supply Company, establishing an early electricity-sector foundation for the family enterprise.

A family-controlled Pakistani diversified business group focused on industrial manufacturing, power and communications infrastructure, healthcare, energy exploration, and large-scale real estate.

• Textile manufacturing · 1989

  Saif Textile Mills

  Saif Textile Mills operates a spinning business at Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The company produces textile yarn and is a listed group-associated company with reported installed capacity of 88,476 spindles.

• Textile manufacturing · 1967

  Kohat Textile Mills

  Kohat Textile Mills is a spinning operation located in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was incorporated in 1967 and began commercial production in 1970, with reported installed capacity of 44,400 spindles.

• Textile manufacturing · 2006

  Mediterranean Textile Company

  Mediterranean Textile Company is an Egypt-based joint venture located near Alexandria. Its principal activity is the production of cotton yarn, with reported installed capacity of 63,312 spindles.

• Power generation · 2004

  Saif Power Limited

  Saif Power owns and operates a 225-megawatt dual-fuel combined-cycle thermal power plant at Qadarabad in Sahiwal District, Punjab. The facility supplies power under a long-term agreement with Pakistan's transmission and dispatch system.

• Healthcare services · 2011

  Kulsum International Hospital

  Kulsum International Hospital is a private hospital in Islamabad's Blue Area operated through Saif Healthcare. It was established with a cardiology emphasis and later expanded from its original 67 beds to approximately 100 beds.

• Telecommunications infrastructure · 2006

  Trans World Associates TW1

  TW1 is a 1,300-kilometre submarine fibre-optic cable connecting Karachi with Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and Al Seeb in Oman. It was developed and operated by Trans World Associates and provided private-sector international connectivity for Pakistan.

• Real estate development · 2017

  Eighteen Islamabad

  Eighteen Islamabad is a planned luxury residential and commercial development near Islamabad International Airport. Saif Group developed it with Ora Developers and Kohistan Builders & Developers on a large land parcel.

• Oil and gas exploration

  Saif Energy

  Saif Energy holds interests in oil and gas exploration blocks in Pakistan through consortia with companies including Oil and Gas Development Company, Mari Energies, and Tullow Oil.

• 2024

  Saif Power agreement moved to hybrid take-and-pay structureStrategy

  Background

  The government revisited the contractual framework for Saif Power's electricity project.

  Action taken

  In December 2024, the power-purchase agreement was changed from a take-or-pay basis to a hybrid take-and-pay basis.

  Aftermath

  The revision changed the project's payment and offtake framework. The supplied reference does not state the subsequent financial impact.

  Source

• 2020

  Revision of Saif Power power-purchase agreementStrategy

  Background

  Saif Power's original power-purchase arrangement included sovereign support, a stated return on equity, and United States dollar indexation.

  Action taken

  The agreement was revised in August 2020, including removal of United States dollar indexation.

  Aftermath

  The change altered the economic terms governing the power-generation project; the available reference does not provide sufficient financial results to quantify its effect.

  Source

1. 1Saif Groupen.wikipedia.org