Imran Malik

Business and entrepreneurship are not for everyone. However, neither do you need remarkable intelligence nor do you have to know everything about business to become a successful self-made businessman. Just the desire for independence is a powerful motivating force. One of the features of many Pakistanis is their ability to rise from modest situations to positions of considerable wealth, usually achieved through hard work and a determination to succeed.

Pakistanis are often not content to join a successful family business but feel the need to strike out on their own to establish their own abilities. This is because there is a deep need to strive and success among them, which needs to be fulfilled and to be satisfied and is always accepted with the family's blessing as a sign of strength and independence.

One such individual, who has set out on his own to establish a successful business is Imran Malik, who has done more in his life than many people twice of his age. This he has achieved through constantly striving and pushing forward and always looking ahead to the potential in his ventures.

Imran Malik was born in 1971, in Chishtian. He had his primary education locally and then moved to Multan, where he did his matriculation. He moved back to Chishtian and did his D. Com in 1990, but moved back to Multan to complete his B.Com. After finishing his studies, Imran ventured into a hardware business for a short period in Multan.

1n 1992, Imran Malik moved to Glasgow, Scotland and started working for his uncle (Late Abdul Shakoor) in Glasgow’s Allison Street. In 1994, he got married and started planning to have his own business in the near future. Having seen the opportunity he decided to grasp it and rented his first premises at Albert Drive, Glasgow in 1996 and planned to start his own business with only £400 in his pocket. His friend in Edinburgh had closed his shop and stored all the shelving in his house. Imran took the opportunity and bought his all shelving from his friend only for £600.

Imran borrowed £800 and £1200 from his close friends and opened an Asian Fruit and Vegetable shop, with no staff other than the help from his wife. To his surprise the very first day’s turnover was £800. Few years later, Imran moved his business to a much bigger premises and added the Asian grocery as well to his fruit and vegetable business, where he had to pay £8000 just for the fixtures and fittings. This move was not successful and Imran had to suffer heavy losses.

In 2009, he moved to Maxwell road and opened up his first Asian cash and carry, where he also added clothing, meat and grocery to his original fruit and vegetable business. The move was successful and he remained at these premises until 2012.

In March 2013, Imran Malik with full of confidence opened up his cash and carry in Glasgow’s ‘Forth Street’ even on bigger premises. He is also very interested in the property business but is presently waiting for the right time. Imran, who started his business with no staff is employing about 40 staff today.

Until now he has been concentrating on the business but now that he has achieved so much and his business is stable he feels that now he must get involved with some work within the community. He believes very strongly that it is important for individuals to give something back to the community and become involved in doing something for others. Only in that way can they achieve fulfilment.

Imran believes as the younger generation is educated they will not follow the old traditions and copy business ideas but will be able to instigate and initiate new ideas and concepts so that they can more fully face the rigours of business life in the next century.

He has two sons and a daughters and is very keen to see that they are adequately educated. Imran encourages them to visit Pakistan so that they can feel that part of culture and can understand the traditions. This is also important, he believes, in giving them a sense of their identity and helping them to understand their background.

His elder son, Ihtisham Malik, plays cricket for Scotland under 19.