Contributed by Mr Minhaj Aftab, Assistant Manager, SCAO Karachi Steel Dept

The Lasting Friendship

While penning down this article, I was thrilled to find out and would like to share with you some interesting facts such as the great history of long-standing relationship between Pakistan and Japan.

SCAO Karachi office was established around 7 decades ago, around the same time when Pakistan and Japan officially established diplomatic relations. Last year Embassy of Japan in Pakistan celebrated 70^th anniversary of friendly diplomatic relationship with Pakistan. It indicates that the business/diplomatic/friendly relationship between two countries initiated from the very beginning, when Pakistan came into being in 1947.

In Pakistan we have two offices, Karachi and Islamabad with four business departments, namely Metals & Petroleum, Automotive, Chemicals and OCTG. Pakistan offices are currently headed by Country GM Mr Koji Nishizaki.

SC Karachi Metal Dept colleagues enjoying team dinner at a local restaurant

Complete Collaboration, Not Just Trade Business

Let’s shed the light on our most important business of Flat Steel (Metals).

Pakistan is the world’s  fifth-most populous country of about 240 million people whose demand for flat steel has been largely met by our business and through our joint venture and strategic partnership with “International Steel Limited” (ISL). ISL is a public limited company of Amir Sultan Chinoy (ASC) group. ISL is serving the nation’s flat steel needs of cold rolled/galvanised steel and colour coated steel with around 36% total market share in Pakistan.

ISL State of the Art Factory in Karachi

SC holds 9.075% and JFE steel (Japan) owns 4.74% shareholdings in ISL. We support ISL’s business through our various business support functions such as providing smooth and regular supply of raw material (Hot Rolled Coils) to ISL for cold rolling, galvanising and colour coated steel manufacturing.

Furthermore, being their strategic partner, we also support ISL in areas including promotion of ISL’s products to different export destinations by our overseas network, mainly USA. We also support them in product/material development, providing continuous technical support with JFE and improvising ISL’s coil center operations through Sumitomo’s vast experience and best practices. These are some of the collaborations/cooperations that boosted our strong business relationship with ISL.

ISL and SCAO Karachi Joint Visit to Sumisho Metal Thailand

The Shared Victory

Sumitomo and ISL together with JFE (Japan) achieved a huge milestone by successfully traded and processed over 3 million Hot Rolled Coils in March 2023. All three mentioned partners are going to celebrate the occasion with great zeal in Japan in November 2023.

Sumitomo and ISL Managements at ISL Headquarter in Karachi

The loyalty and will of both companies ISL and Sumitomo along with our metal department’s long tireless efforts created this exemplary strategic business partnership that has been continuing for more than a decade. It has shaped the environment that enables us to develop more new businesses between SC and Amir Sultan Chinoy group in the time to come.

Sumitomo and ISL Managements (front row) visited ISL factory

Contributed by Mr Aamer Zubair, Deputy Manager, SCAO Islamabad office Tubular Dept

Best place to go – HUNZA Valley, Northern Pakistan

Pakistan is home to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the world, particularly in its northern region. The Northern Areas of Pakistan are a collection of valleys, mountains, glaciers, and lakes that offer visitors a unique and unforgettable experience.  5 out of the top 14 peaks of the world, including K2 –the second-highest mountain, are in Northern Pakistan.

Nanga Purbat Mountain – 9^th highest and most difficult mountain to climb

The Hunza Valley is in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region of northern Pakistan. Hunza Valley is often called “Heaven on Earth.” The landscape of the valley is dominated by the towering peaks of the Karakoram Mountain range, which offer spectacular views of the surrounding area.  Visitors can enjoy hiking, trekking, and mountain climbing in the area, or simply relax and take in the breathtaking scenery. The valley is also known for its cultural heritage, with local traditions and customs that have been passed down for generations.

Hunza Valley

The valley is filled with lush green meadows, snow-capped mountains, glistening glaciers., lakes and crystal-clear rivers. The most iconic feature of the valley is the Karakoram Highway, which runs through the valley and connects the cities of Gilgit and Kashgar in China. The views from the highway are simply stunning and offer a unique perspective of the valley. Khunjerab Pass is a 4,693m high mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains. While travelling, one can see the 57 km long Batura Glacier, which is the fifth-longest glacier in the world outside the polar region.

Batura Glacier

The valley is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including snow leopards, ibex, and a variety of birds.

Hunza is also famous for its beautiful lakes. Attabad Lake is one of them which is over 109m deep and around 14km long. This Lake is full of chilly blue water, which slit into the lake from nearby glaciers and from the Hunza river. It is one of the deepest lakes in Pakistan with an altitude of 2,559 meters. During winter, it gets frozen.

There are two great ancient forts namely Baltit Fort and Altit Fort in Hunza, both have been greatly restored and are major tourist attractions in this area. The Baltit castle is about 800 years old.

Baltit Fort

One of the best ways to experience the valley is to take the Karakoram Highway, which is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world. The road winds through the mountains, offering stunning views of the valley below. Along the way, travellers can stop at small villages to experience local culture and sample traditional food. Travelling to Hunza by road from Islamabad, travellers must brave a 20-hour drive through winding mountain roads to reach the valley. However, the journey is well worth it, as travellers are rewarded with breathtaking views of the Karakoram range.

Suspension Bridge – Hunza Valley

With its stunning natural beauty, fascinating history, and unique culture, it’s no wonder that this valley is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Pakistan.