The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Nov 14: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has expressed profound grief over the death of veteran entrepreneur Khwaja Mohammad Khalil, co-founder of the renowned Saifco Group, calling his passing an irreparable loss to Kashmir’s business community and industrial sector.
In a condolence statement, KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga said Khwaja Mohammad Khalil Guna was among the pioneering entrepreneurs who demonstrated that indigenous businesses in Kashmir could grow into major enterprises despite the economic uncertainties and difficult circumstances prevailing in the region.
With Khwaja Mohammad Khalil’s passing, Kashmir has lost an industrial pioneer whose contribution went far beyond establishing business ventures. He belonged to a generation of entrepreneurs who invested their resources, took considerable risks and built institutions that created employment, strengthened the local economy and enhanced Kashmir’s business identity.
KCCI President said the journey of the Saifco Group, built through the vision, determination and enterprise of Khwaja Mohammad Khalil and his late brother Khwaja Saif-ud-Din, remains an important example of entrepreneurial perseverance.
From manufacturing and industrial production to hospitality and other business ventures, the group established a significant presence across diverse sectors, reflecting the founders’ ability to identify opportunities and build enterprises of lasting economic value.
Tenga observed that building and sustaining such a diversified business group in Kashmir required exceptional courage and commitment, particularly when businesses had to navigate prolonged uncertainty, market disruptions, financial constraints and an often challenging investment climate.
“Entrepreneurs like Khwaja Mohammad Khalil have made a lasting contribution to Kashmir in ways that are not always adequately recognised. The industries they established, the employment opportunities they generated and the confidence they instilled in generations of local businesspeople constitute a legacy that deserves recognition and respect,” he said.
KCCI conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, particularly Parveez Ahmad Guna, Altaf Ahmad Guna, Manzoor Ahmad Guna and Aamir Manzoor Guna, Treasurer of KCCI. The Chamber expressed solidarity with all members of the family and prayed for strength and fortitude for them to bear this irreparable loss.
