Yusuf H. Shirazi
A friend of Shirazi and Rafi shared some thoughtful words for both of them, as it appears he was very close to them.
He feels the utmost sadness and a sense of personal loss that he has learned of two old friends in Karachi, namely Yusuf Shirazi and Rafi Muneer.
He left Karachi after an unforgettable and memorable stay of over thirty years; he says that some twenty years ago the memory of those happy days remains fresh in my mind.
For Shirazi, he mentions that he is the eminent man of affairs, a noted economic advisor, and innovator who created his mark in the economic system by his sheer brilliance in an adopted town of Karachi. He had proverbial and met Shirazi way back in Montgomery currently known as Sahiwal around 1950. Shirazi was then a student of government school and his friend met him in native Montgomery gymkhana where he played cricket with him as a student.
He later acknowledged that Shirazi was a student of his late father who was also his tutor and held him in high esteem.
Mr. Shirazi moved to Lahore for higher studies, and dabbled in journalism each with The Pakistan Times and Nawa E Waqt, to contribute to student and academic activities, before joining the government through a competitive method, as an income tax officer.
Although, he belonged to Sahiwal but primarily through his sheer brilliance and outstanding ability he later resigned from the govt. service and joined the renowned Gandhara Motors during the Ayub Khan era.
But he later found his way to begin his long and exceptional career to establish the Honda Autos, to emerge as a notable figure in Pakistan automotive business.
However, he never forgot his old friends and acquaintances of Sahiwal whom he forever met cheerfully and with due respect.
Rafi Muneer
Now this person had come across a young Rafi Muneer over sixty years ago once he initials arrived in Karachi. After joining PIA, it had been inevitable that this friend was moved from Lahore to Karachi after some years to be given a senior slot in the head office under a dynamic boss like Omer Kureshi.
Rafi belonged to the Hysons Family, one of the highest 21 families of that era. However, due to his spendthrift issues, his father had repudiated him and he was living with the family of a friend whom I additionally knew well. In that course, Rafi got reconciled together with his family and was presented back to live stylish with his wealthy parents. He was very close to the Bhutto family and became a supply of strength rather than a nuisance to his family.
Rafi over the years did well on his own too. Though his family business like others of that era suffered, he had remained active. Solely his downside was to deal with his multiple health issues.
Even after Rafi’s friends come back from Karachi, the sturdy bond with Rafi remained intact. He also talked fondly regarding the emergence of “Sana Safinaz” the firm belonging to his daughter and daughter in law.
He shares deep condolences to both his dear friends and their families.
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