KARACHI: Renowned business leader and industrialist Siraj Kassam Teli died in Dubai on Tuesday, his friends and family sources said. He was 67.

They said that while staying in the United Arab Emirates for almost a month, he was admitted to a Dubai hospital on complaints of chest pain where he died during treatment.

“He was admitted to the hospital for a chest infection and breathing problem,” said one of his friends quoting information from the family.

Born in Karachi in May 1953, Mr Teli graduated from the Government College of Commerce and Economics in 1974. He had been actively involved in business politics since the late 1970s.

He was elected the 27th president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and also enjoyed the same office at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

As the family was busy finalising his funeral and burial arrangements, condolence messages started pouring in from almost all segments of society.

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed deep sorrow over the death of Mr Teli and offered condolences to his family.

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Siraj Qasim Teli Sahib,” tweeted Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar. “I frequently interacted with him on issues facing Karachi’s business community and learnt from his valuable experiences and advice.”

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also offered his condolences and remembered the late businessman as a friend.

“He was the nicest person and a close friend. Deeply saddened to hear of his demise,” a tweet from the CM House quoted Mr Shah as saying.

Mr Teli was a founding chief of Businessmen Group — a platform of the country’s industrialists and businessmen actively involved in politics of the business chambers and the FPCCI.

“It’s a loss of the country,” said president of the KCCI Shariq Vohra. “He was an asset of this country and he was the leader of the business community not only in Karachi but across Pakistan.”

Renowned business leader Aqeel Karim Dhedhi said that he was very saddened to hear the news of Mr Teli’s death.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2020