ISLAMABAD: A new coffee-table book documenting the stories of 25 Pakistani brands that grew alongside the country and became part of its social, economic and cultural landscape was launched here on Tuesday.
Titled Pakistan Iconic Brands, the book has been authored by LSE professor Arshad Awan and funded by Murree Brewery.
The book looked beyond the commercial success of its subjects to explore how some of Pakistan’s oldest and most recognisable businesses became woven into the everyday lives and memories of generations of Pakistanis.
The launch was managed by Nilofer Qazi and brought together a large gathering of members of the business community, academics, writers, journalists, diplomats and people associated with Pakistan’s cultural and intellectual life.
Chief Executive Officer of Murree Brewery Isphanyar M Bhandara and author Arshad Awan spoke on the occasion, highlighting the importance of documenting the country’s business history and the people behind it.
Mr. Bhandara said the book was an effort to preserve an important but often overlooked part of Pakistan’s history, the story of the people and businesses that built the country, created employment, developed industries and, over decades, became part of its cultural identity.
Mr. Bhandara spoke about the need for greater unity within Pakistan’s business community. He observed that traders, retailers and transporters had traditionally been more organised and able to demonstrate collective strength, while the business and industrial community had not always spoken with the same unified voice.
He stressed that the government should create an environment in which businesses can operate, invest and grow rather than unnecessarily interfere in their affairs.
Among the distinguished guests at the launch were the high commissioners of Sri Lanka and Mauritius, the ambassador of Ireland, the deputy head of mission of Nepal, representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, Spokesperson to the President Murtaza Solangi, Press Secretary to the President Danial Gillani, Vice Chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University Prof. Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, and a number of prominent journalists, academics and members of the business community.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2026