The Game Changers

Wazir Muhammad Khan was one of the first officers hired by British American Tobacco when it started its operations in Pakistan soon after partition being Pakistan’s first MNC registered at the Stock Market. He received initial training at BAT’s Liverpool Factory.

After partition, the lack of industry was the biggest challenge of the country as it was practically non-existent. The country looked for foreign investment and BAT was the first to respond and assist. Its investment in Pakistan and the founding of its subsidiary, Pakistan Tobacco Company proved a game changer both for the national economy and indeed for the rural economy due to its vast supply chain from farm to consumer through manufacturing and logistics cycles. Soon, the example was emulated by other MNCs.

Pakistan Tobacco Company took another major step by deciding to raise a tobacco processing and redrying plant at Akora Khattak and simultaneously initiated the promotion of Virginia tobacco cultivation in the rural area of the erstwhile NWFP now KP. The reason is tobacco in this part had been grown for millennia and used in various forms.

BAT/ PTC on the back of its experience and research in other African countries as indeed in North America brought in experts from all over to educate the farming communities in tobacco growing, modern technologies of the time and quality seeds, plantation, harvesting, and initial processing techniques in barns and its transportation to the plant in Akora Khattak. It also established a number of buying points ensuring timely payments, and a much higher return for the produce. It also established transit warehousing capacity in the rural areas employing a large number of the workforce directly and those associated with agriculture and transportation as indirect labor. Thus, the Company revolutionized the rural economy and started moving its wheels. It too attracted a number of youngsters, in particular, students to employ on seasonal jobs in their summer vacations, and thus while financially supporting the community, it provided a great training ground of international standing and instilled discipline and good work ethics. There are a number of examples of its seasonal alumni who made it to the top in various fields and there are some great names as Mian Fazle Ghani, the brain behind Emirates Airline and its first General Manager, a number of senior military officers including well including known generals, doctors, engineers, lawyers and academicians of repute.

The Company simultaneously built its factory, warehousing capacity, and residential area for its expat staff at Akora Khattak. The site was selected for its proximity to Grand Truck Road, a Railway Station, and due to the military background and training of the prospective workforce that it intended to recruit. It also needed a local influence to ensure a smooth establishment process across its operational areas. The Company was fortunate in having Wazir Muhammad Khan as one of its managers and the right man for the job.

Wazir Muhammad Khan is the son of Lt Taj Muhammad Khan of village Adamzai combined the rich heritage of his family with his personal credentials and smart demeanor was thus the right choice. His father, Lt Taj Muhammad Khan MBE, OBE, KCIE was one of the first Batch of six Kings Commissioned native Guides officers of the Sub Continent whose father Captain Sarfaraz Khan too was one of the earlier Guides officers with the distinction of being a member of the elite group of orderly to the Crown. Both the father and the son had been invitees to the coronation ceremony which they attended in London. He was instrumental in land acquisition across KP, the construction of the facilities, and in employing the workforce. Later, he was trained in tobacco buying and posted to Liverpool and East Pakistan.

Wazir Muhammad Khan has thus played a pioneering role in the uplift of the rural economy and tutored a number of ex-pats and personalities like Mian Yawar Saeed and Aslam Khaliq, both of national eminence.

In the picture: Wazir Muhammad Khan addresses and thanks the people who gathered to congratulate him after he was released by kidnappers. Unfortunately, was kidnapped in the tribal area while he was returning from Landikotal to his residence. The people of the area played a key role in his release by blocking G T road and putting pressure on the Government for early release.

He passed away a few years back. May his soul rest in peace and the mantle has passed on to his able son, Senator Nauman Wazir!

(Contributed by Najeeb Ur Rehman Khan, Adamzai)