PESHAWAR, May 31: An eminent industrialist of the NWFP and founder of Karimi Industries, Syed Phool Badshah, passed away on Saturday. He was 85. His Nimaz-i-Janaza will be offered at his residence in Federal Colony, Shami Road, at 10am on Sunday.

The deceased was among the pioneers of steel industry in the province. He, along with his brother, Syed Taj Mir Shah, has also set up the Sarhad Bank, the first private bank of the NWFP. He also established the Nowshera Engineering. Simultaneously associated with industry, commerce and trade, he represented his province nationally and internationally on various important forums.

He remained the president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) when the organisation was in its nascent days.

He was the elder brother of former federal minister Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Pir Syed Jamaat Ali Shah and Syed Taj Mir Shah (late), owner of the Mashriq Group of Newspapers. He was the uncle of Syed Zahir Ali Shah, MPA, Syed Niaz Ali Shah, Syed Fayaz Ali Shah and Syed Ayaz Badshah, Editor-in-Chief of dailies Mashriq and The Statesman, Peshawar.

Hailing from Peshawar’s known Sadaat family, he remained a staunch supporter of Pakistan Muslim League during the peak days of the country’s freedom movement. Apart from being a generous philanthropist, he was a familiar social figure of the old Peshawar City.