Muhammadi Steamship Company Limited was a Pakistani shipping company which was headquartered on Muhammad House in Karachi. It was one of the oldest locally owned shipping companies in Pakistan until it was nationalised in 1974.
History Muhammadi Steamship Company Limited was incorporated on 12 May 1947.Malik, Iftikhar Ahmed, "History of Pakistan Merchant Navy 1947- 2009" Karachi 2010 (privately published) pg 5 It was a large-scale joint venture among business families of Pakistan, including Habib, Cowasjee, Dada, Arag, and Adam, which held ownership until 1963 when Valika family acquired the stake. Under the Valika family's leadership, the company built Al-Abbas, which was the first major ship to be built in Karachi Shipyard. The company was nationalized by the Government of Pakistan under then President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It was later merged with other Pakistani nationalized shipping companies to create the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.
In 1949, it became the first Pakistani shipping line to be publicly listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange.Malik, Iftikhar Ahmed, History of Pakistan Merchant Navy 1947- 2009 Karachi 2010 (privately published) pg 6
Muhammadi House on McLeod Road (now I. I. Chundrigar Road) was the headquarters of the company.Malik, Iftikhar Ahmed, History of Pakistan Merchant Navy 1947- 2009 Karachi 2010 (privately published) pg 7
Ships Ship Built Tonnage Builder In Service Fate NotesAl Murtaza Ali 1942 7235 GRT West Coast Shipbuilders, Vancouver as 'Fort Norman'1948 - 1954Sold in 1954 to United Oriental Steamship Company, Karachi and renamed ANWARBAKSHHusaini later Al Husaini 1943 7157 GRT North Vancouver Ship Repairers Ltd., North Vancouver as 'Fort Clatsop'1948 - 1968Broken up at Karachi in November 1968 Renamed in 1949Ahmadi later Al Ahmadi 1920 5186 GRT Todd Dry Dock & Construction Company, Tacoma as 'Pallas'1948 - 1954Broken up at Karachi in 1954 Renamed in 1949Al Hasan 1943 7165 GRT North Vancouver Ship Repairers Ltd., North Vancouver as 'Fort St. Antoine'1949 - 1964Broken up at Karachi in February 1964Colima later Al Chisti 1917 1306 GRT Sodra Varfvets Nya A/B, Stockholm as 'Svealand'1949 - 1954Broken up at Karachi in 1954 Renamed in 1950Al-Sayyada 1944 7165 GRT Victoria Machinery Depot Company, Victoria B.C. as 'Hastings Park'1952 - 1967Broken up at Karachi in November 1967First ship to dry dock at Karachi Shipyard.Malik, Iftikhar Ahmed, "History of Pakistan Merchant Navy 1947- 2009" Karachi 2010 (privately published) pg 8Al Ahmadi 1940 5361 GRT Lithgows Ltd., Port Glasgow as 'Risaldar'1958 - 1966Broken up at Karachi in June 1966Al-Abbas 1967 6087 GRT Karachi Shipyard 1967 - 1971 Sunk on 16 August 1971 in Operation Jackpot by the Mukti Bahini commandoes at ChittagongFirst merchant ship built at Karachi Shipyard.
See also
Merchant Navy (Pakistan) Merchant Navy
References
External links