Imtiaz Rastgar
Born in 1946, at Jallandhar, Imtiaz Rastgar is a Manufacturing and Exports Specialist. Starting in 1967, he transformed his own metal casting company into a remarkable vendor for safety critical components for the Pakistani auto sector and then led it to become a global exporter of heavy axle parts.
On basis of his expertise and success, Imtiaz Rastgar was asked to head the EDB, Federal Ministry of Industries from 2004-2007. During this period, he brought the Pakistani engineering goods sector to the attention of foreign markets. For three years he successively led contingents of 35, 52 and 72 Pakistani companies to Hannover. Each company was carefully selected and trained before being taken to Hannover Messe, Germany.
At EDB, Imtiaz Rastgar made several policy interventions for increasing depth of local manufacture in car and truck sector, while component manufacturing and local assembly of motorcycle and three wheelers climbed from 0.25 million to 2.2 million. This created an economic revolution in Pakistan’s transport sector, by bringing down prices to a sensible level and enabling even the poor class to own motorcycles and create income.
Immediately on departure from EDB, Imtiaz Rastgar was invited to join the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CBI, as an Engineering Sector Expert and Trainer. During his tenure with the CBI, 2007-2017, he trained more than 50 Pakistani companies while also imparting training to participants from Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, and Morocco.
Imtiaz Rastgar is author of “Stand Up & Be Counted with A Global Mindset”. This is a step-by-step motivation guide and workbook written for the SME owner manager who is struggling to get of a rut and economic muddle.
Currently, Imtiaz Rastgar works as an Export and Management Consultant for Engineering Goods industry, while also delivering advice and guidance to technical universities and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. He can be reached via www.pmx.com.pk .