The origins of the Habib Group can be traced back four generations to Habib Ismail, born in 1878, and his association with the firm of Khoja Mithabani Nathoo, a leading metals dealer in Bombay. After joining the firm at age 13 for a monthly salary of 5 rupees, through hard work and unrelenting determination, Habib Ismail became partner at 18.

In 1920, Habib Ismail and his sons, Ahmed Habib, Dawood Habib, Mohammed Ali Habib and Ghulam Ali Habib established Habib and Sons to trade in cotton, copper, oil seeds, gold bullion and other commodities and to act as a merchant bank.

In 1941, this led to the formation of Habib Bank Ltd. Bombay, which eventually became the flagship of the family’s industrial and commercial ventures. Soon thereafter, in 1942, Habib Insurance Company was established.

In 1947, the Habib family migrated to newly-established Pakistan and played a vital role in providing the country’s basic banking and financial needs. Based out of Karachi, in 1982 they decentralized their business units amongst a growing family.

Now diversified, the Habib Group has established businesses in the fields of Banking, Insurance, Industry and Trade around the globe.