KARACHI: State dignitaries, political leaders, sports figures, journalism circles and civil society members offered heartfelt condolences on the passing of founding chairman ARY Group, Haji Abdul Razzaq Yaqoob, while special prayers were held at Abdullah Shah Ghazi and Golra Sharif shrines for the departed soul, ARY News reported.
Special prayers will also be held tomorrow (Saturday) on all shrines including of Hazrat Nizamuddin Oliya along with offering of Fateha.
Chairman Gold Market Haroon Chand, while expressing his earnest condolence, announced not to issue gold rates on Friday, in respect of late Haji Yaqoob. He said Haji Yaqoob was the one who turned gold business into an industry.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, chief ministers of all four provinces, former president Asif Ali Zardari, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PTI chief Imran Khan, MQM founding leader Altaf Hussain and other political and religious figures expressed their condolences for Haji Abdul Razzaq Yaqoob.
MQM chief said late Haji Yaqoob was a very kind human being. Haji sahib financially helped on his arrival to London, said Altaf, adding the services rendered by Haji sahib for the poor and disadvantaged segment of the society will be long remembered.
Scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan said services of Haji Yaqoob will be remembered always. Business tycoon Aqeel Karim Dhedi said the late ARY Group chairman played vital role in improvement of economy of the country.
Religious leader Allama Tahir ul Qadri said Haji sahib was a true patriotic Pakistani.
Cricketer Javed Miandad said Haji Yaqoob was a very respectful figure who always tendered affection. Ex-cricketer Asif Iqbal said the deceased was one of the pioneers of cricket in Sharjah.
The head of a prominent business group of Pakistan Haji Abdul Razzaq Yaqoob was born on May 7, 1944 in Surat city of Gujarat in India.
He played an important role in the national economy of Pakistan by leading a key business group of the country.
Haji Abdul Razzaq was also a philanthropist and reamained head of the World Memon Organization (WMO). The WMO is a charity organisation that runs schools and hospitals for the poor, gives scholarships to deserving students and also provides financial support to underprivileged people around the world in addition to building mosques.
With his hard work and struggle, he introduced the ARY Group on the national and international level.
He founded ARY Group in 1972. Haji Abdul Razzaq made Dubai the base for his business. His brother Haji Muhammad Iqbal also worked alongside him.
ARY Group headed by Haji Abdul Razzaq played a pivotal role in promotion of business activities in Pakistan. The Group also played key role in promotion of media industry in the country.
Haji Abdul Razzaq won several national and international honors for his performance in media industry and other sectors.
