Maqbool Rasul

The journey from being educated in a profession to top class businessman in Britain may not at first seem apparent but for one highly successful British Pakistani the route has proved a fruitful and fulfilling one. Maqbool Hussain Rasul (popularly known as Mac) is proud to be a British Pakistani with a sense both of his cultural background and his present situation.

Born in Pakistan, he left his hometown Jagrawan Faisalabad in 1964 and migrated to Scotland. Mac arrived from Pakistan to Glasgow’s Gorbal’s area and despite a tough upbringing as one of 11 children he gained a degree in civil engineering with Honours from Paisley College. He went on to start a grocery shop in 1977 before opening his first video rental store (Global Video) in 1985 in Glasgow's Albert Drive. After a year he opened a second shop in Thornliebank and in 1987, sold his grocery shops and sub-post office to concentrate on his new business “Global Video”.

Global Video grew to become the UK's second largest film hire chain, with a membership database numbering 1.5 million. At its peak, in 2000, the company had more than 1300 staff and 260 outlets, stretching from northern Scotland to the Midlands and Wales. Company’s annual profits reached £3.2m, and Mac announced plans for a 300strong network of stores.

In 2006, Mac had the foresight to see the limited timeframe within the video rental market with the ever evolving technology and with the influences of the internet. With this foresight he invested much of his personal wealth into property investment as he had seen this as his future, now resulting in a large property portfolio of commercial properties in the UK as well as a residential portfolio in the UAE.

As Mac concentrated only on his property businesses he said “I have just discovered the secret of good business, right from my armchair”  No work, no phone calls, just sit back and relax and let this secret work its magic.  But only, if you know how a simple 5-minute session with a sheet of paper and a biro can totally transform your property wealth potential!

One thing you must do if you are to get rich in property is to have a rich range of information and a drive to succeed. If you don’t have that you can forget all about property wealth. If you do not know how to select exactly the right sector for you to make your fortune from, you’ll waste years.  If you know how to start with minimum investment capital and you also know how to get in on the property game at the level which is right for you, then you are on your way.

Mac says it is a privilege to be in property business. “I’m only too aware that there are many gifted people out there who are running or plan to run their own property business but I am not losing any sleep over that now as I used to in the video business”.

I know there are a number of barriers to success including confidence, poor planning, limited business or market knowledge, through to limited financial and, human resources. This wide range of information I received through my contacts and of course my inspiration to succeed is probably the best resources available to me that address all of my requirements to succeed in the UK and elsewhere in property business.

Mac is married to Shenaz, and they have three children Zahid, Syema, and Abid, who cites him as their inspiration because he is a man of high principles, sincerity of nature, and hard work. All are the means by which they believe that they could fulfil their dreams and ambitions.