Individuals,
groups and nations are tested in times of adversity.
The October 8, 2005 earthquake, the most devastating
calamity to ever hit Pakistan, was the severest
test. It saw the nation rise to the occasion.
The exemplary national response, particularly
the remarkable fortitude and resilience of the
survivors, proved without a shadow of doubt, that
the Pakistani nation has the strength of character
and ability to overcome any challenge it is faced
with. Many of Jaffer Group employees from the
north of Pakistan also suffered in the October
8 disaster. The employees, management and principals
of Jaffer Group donated generously to the earthquake
victims in general, and to the affected employees
in particular, to help them rebuild their shattered
lives. The Jaffer Group is committed to continuing
its efforts to help rehabilitate the earthquake
victims.
The Jaffer Group is undergoing a pivotal transformation.
Superficially it may appear as a turbulent time
but the restructuring of the shareholding of the
Group companies and the changes at the Board of
Director level will see us emerge stronger, more
focused and more forward looking. We highly appreciate
the untiring effort and invaluable contribution
of the outgoing members of the Board while we
welcome the infusion of the new incumbents, both
of whom have long management experience within
and outside Pakistan. This fine mix of old and
new BOD members gives a unique and renewed perspective
as well as a new dynamism to the Group. Members
who were part of the preceding BOD are steeped
in the fine traditions of the Jaffer family. They
will provide a continuity of purpose while the
new entrants will further strengthen management
skills and provide leadership in new areas of
business.
The new BOD has decided to revamp the Group's
image. A new logo has been introduced to symbolise
not only our adherence to our traditions but also
our commitment to adapt to the ever-evolving business
environment and a dynamic vision of the future.
The Group has just committed itself to its 2010
vision of further strengthening its position in
the IT and agriculture sectors while continuing
to grow in trading and service activities. In
the next 5 years, the Group also intends to move
into the industrial sector. The devastating impact
of the earthquake has disrupted our nation's life
but at the same time, it has presented tremendous
opportunities in infrastructure projects; JBL
is committed to playing its reconstruction role
through its Project and Machinery Division.
Since its establishment, the Jaffer Group has
consistently made a significant contribution to
the agriculture sector of Pakistan. Our country
suffers from low yields, poor quality produce
and acute water shortage. The need of the hour
is to introduce cutting edge technologies in the
country that can optimize our agriculture output
and enhance quality to international standards
while addressing the water shortage problem. The
Jaffer Group has once again assumed a pioneering
role through the introduction of high efficiency
irrigation management and continues to adopt other
advanced technologies to meet these challenges.
The Pakistani economy is expanding at a rapid
pace. Our relationship with India is appreciably
improving. Trade with Afghanistan is also increasing.
The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is finally
close to realization. We see tremendous opportunities
now and in the future. We are making sure that
we not only avail all these opportunities now
but also build our capacity to take advantage
of future prospects. We are fully conscious of
the fact that increasing the capabilities of an
organization primarily means training and empowering
the employees. We, therefore, continue to give
full attention to these important aspects. We
pride ourselves on the Group's exemplary spirit
and I am confident that together we are more than
capable of meeting all new challenges.
