Adamjee Haji Dawood

Sir Adamjee Haji Dawood Bawany (30 June 1880 – 27 January 1948) was a Pakistani businessman and philanthropist who founded Adamjee Group. He was also an activist in the Pakistan Movement. The purpose of this was to assist the migration process by providing transport of Muslims to Pakistan and to create banking facilities in the new country, Pakistan.

Death and legacy

Once Pakistan was created, Dawood and his sons established businesses in both East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan. Following financial difficulties in Pakistan in January 1948, Jinnah invited him to participate in the establishment of the State Bank of Pakistan, it was during this meeting that he suffered a heart attack and later died on the night of 27 January 1948. The founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah stated on his death that his death would leave a vacuum in Muslim business community which would be hard to fill. Jinnah called it a "National Loss" to Pakistan and said that Adamjee Haji Dawood was a loyal Muslim and had rendered great service in our struggle for Pakistan.

Awards and recognition

In recognition for his services to his countrymen, the British government knighted him in June 1938. The Government of Pakistan honoured Sir Adamjee Haji Dawood by minting a postage stamp titled 'Pioneers of Freedom' on 14 August 1999. Adamjee Government Science College is named after his family.