changing paradigms - welcome to tcs express ... edition, 2015 / volume 14 / issue 1 the 60 minutes...

Autumn Edition, 2015 / Volume 14 / Issue 1

The 60 Minutes Man!Delivering beyond customer expectations

ContentsChairman’s Message

M.A. Mannan - Changing the rules

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

TCS Supply Chain Advisory

‘We Move You’ campaign

Yayvo.com

Peter Senge in Pakistan

Clients Testimonials

Heart to Heart with Director HR

Celebrating Ali Asghar Kayani

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CHANGING PARADIGMS

TCS Customer Newsletter


On behalf of the TCS people, I extend warm greetings to our valuedcustomers.

TCS is committed to serving you with utmost endeavour, where-ever youlive in Pakistan, and what-ever is your business or occupation.

It has been our privilege past three decades to have been part of yourevery-day life; and there are many heart-warming stories of affection andtrust built across generations.

As the country's leading logistics services provider, TCS is deeply consciousof the challenge and opportunities of the new global era.

We firmly believe that for our country: 'the best is yet to come'. An articlein this edition on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) gives aglimpse of the opportunities ahead.

TCS has accordingly geared itself, and this month marks the first anniversaryof a major re-structuring aimed at positioning TCS as a regional and globalplayer, through upgrades in human-resource, technology, and operationalfacilities.

Our Group President and CEO, M.A. Mannan completes his first year atthe helm, having injected a new spirit in the team with passion for highachievement.

This issue I hope will give you a glimpse into the world of TCS. We introduceyou to some of our new services and a valued customer. We also celebratedeeds and achievements of Pakistanis that make our nation progressiveand vibrant. Last but not the least we showcase some amongst us whoserve you.

I hope you enjoy reading this and look forward to your feedback throughour corporate website.

Khalid Awan 1

Patron Khalid Awan

Chief Editor M.A. Mannan

Editor Naiyar SaifiDirector Marketing & Public Affairs

Members of Editorial Committee

Shairose UkanjiManager Corporate Communications

Syed ShahbazDesigner/Manager Creative Services

Adil AhmadCorrespondent

Jamil JanjuaAdvisor

Editorial Board

Chairman’sMessage


M.A. Mannan is the President & CEOof TCS Holdings Limited bringingwith him over 22 years of businessexperience both locally andinternationally. Mannan strives toembody the TCS Hazir tagline “Wechange the rules” and keenly worksto be a force of inspiration in addingvalue to the lives of others – be itthe employee or the customer. Whatdrives Mannan, is INNOVATION –to play some role in helping peoplerealize their way of doing things mustevolve. Be it in the sphere of banking,remitting money, sending things totheir loved ones or online shopping- Mannan believes Pakistan mustadapt to the changing trends, andmust grow accordingly.

Having completed his MBA from oneof Pakistan’s finest businessinstitutions, the IBA, Mannan beganhis professional career at Citibank(1991-2003) where his focus was onConsumer Banking. In his finalassignment at Citibank New York,Mannan was responsible for Cross-

Selling to customers across allCitibank Cards portfolios consistingof 93 Million customers. Mannan hasthe privilege of serving as a memberof the Management Committee ofCitibank Pakistan responsible forStrategic Management andprofitability for the bank’s entireproduct range comprising of Cards,Car Loans, Personal Loans andBranch Banking.

Mannan built on his experience inthe financial sector, first as DeputyCEO of UBL (2003-2005) where hewas directly responsible forconsumer and commercial bankingas well as international operationsin USA, UK, UAE, Qatar, Bahrainand Switzerland. He then went onto serve as CEO of Dubai Islamicbank from 2005-2010 where he wasresponsible for launching thefranchise in Pakistan from scratchand successfully led it to its currentstatus of being one of the largestIslamic banks in Pakistan.

Prior to joining TCS, Mannan servedas the Executive Director at Silkbankwhere he was responsible for IslamicBanking and also spearheaded theMergers & Acquisitions activities todeliver the best value for the Bank.

Mannan has also served as thechairman of the task force onremittance to Pakistan. Heenvisioned and created PakistanRemittance Initiative (PRI), a jointventure between the State Bank ofPakistan, Ministry of Finance andMinistry of overseas Pakistanis. Thiswas a breakthrough program whichdelivered more than $18.4billion in2014/15. He is also an Ex Memberof the Revenue Advisory Council toFederal Board of Revenue (FBR) inPakistan.

Mannan is an avid sportsman andhe strongly believes that sports isthe best way to learn discipline, focusand leadership.

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Changingthe rules



When Chinese premier XiJingping visited Kazakhstan in2013 he made a speechenvisioning a Silk RoadEconomic Belt to bring newprosperity to Asia; a conceptwhich has now become thecenterpiece of Chinese foreignand international economicpolicy. Known as “One Belt, OneRoad” it is claimed that thisproject will bind together 65countries and 4.4bn people fromXi’an in western China acrossCentral Asia and to the MiddleEast, Russia and Europe.

The maritime part of this road isdesigned to link China to theIndian ocean, East Africa, theRed Sea and the Mediterranean.Pakistan is hence the firsttesting ground for the “One Belt,One Road” strategy, which willpromote regional stability,expand China’s economicfootprint and boost the country’sexports through lesseningtransit times to the Middle East,Africa and EU.

Turbocharging theLogistics SectorOut of the $45bn Chinese investmentpromised for Pakistan, it is said that$34bn will go towards energy projects,while $11bn will target infrastructureprojects such as roads and railways.

In addition to energy and infrastructuresectors, it is forecast that the logisticssector will benefit immensely owing tothe flow of goods between Gwadarand Kashgar so as to boost Chinesetrade in South and Central Asia.

New Highways, Airport,& Railway LinesSo, what will be the impact of thisinvestment within the transportationindustry? Government data shows thatkey projects include the Karachi-Lahore Motorway’s (KLM) Multan-Sukkur section ($2.6bn), KarakoramHighway Phase 2 Thakot-Haveliansection ($920mn), Gwadar EastbayExpressway ($135mn), GwadarInternational Airport ($230mn),Peshawar-Karachi railway lineincluding a dry port at Havelian, andthe Orange Line Metro TrainLahore($1.6bn).

Gwadar Port & grandeconomiesArguably the most prominent projectrelated to the transport industry isGwadar Port which will house containerhandling facilities, a major highwayand the aforementioned internationalairport.

When first envisioned more than adecade ago it was said that Gwadarwould “change the shipping map ofthe world” in the words of then PMShaukat Aziz. Whether that happensor not remains to be seen, but one can

be sure that Europe and Africa will bebetter served through Gwadar. Thecost of shipping from Western Europeto China will be halved by shippingthrough Pakistan. In addition it isforecasted that Gwadar can benefitthe Middle East as it takes a ship oneday to reach Gwadar from Dubai whileDubai-Shanghai takes up to two weeks.

Container costs are also $250 fromUAE-Pakistan while they are $1500from UAE-China. According to theExpress Tribune, the first everconsignment comprising fish exportsdeparted Gwadar for Dubai in May2015. Kashgar and Urumqi in westernChina are poised to be the two mainurban centers to benefit from thiseconomic corridor as Xinjiang becomesa trading hub within China.

Within the transportation and logisticsindustry the rail and air links arescheduled to be developed in phases- firstly will come the highways, followedby rail links and finally airports anddata connectivity.

Along with the physical infrastructureit is anticipated that CPEC will impactcorporate culture and lead to atransformation of mindsets as businessleaders from Pakistan interact withtheir counterparts abroad on a frequentbasis.

Industrial zones along the Corridor willlift economic growth, and pioneers inthe logistics industry will become the

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s paradigm changingimpact on the transportation & logistics sectorBy Qasim Awan

PAKISTANPOISED FOR ECONOMIC TAKEOFF

Qasim Awan is agraduate of YorkUniversity (Toronto)and holds a Master’sdegree from CassBusiness School atCity University London.He is a part of theSupply Chain Advisoryand E-CommerceInnovations teams atTCS and is a keenobserver of global andregional supply chainsissues.


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prime beneficiaries. With Gwadaralready operational, it is suggestedthat trucking companies gain a footholdthere as education and healthcareprojects are stimulating the localeconomy. Pakistan and Chinacurrently have a $16bn tradingrelationship, of which $4bn are madeup of Pakistani exports and $12bn ofimports, the bulk of which passesthrough the Karakoram Highway. Thislong, meandering highway carved highinto the mountains is the routePakistani truckers undertake in theirjourney to the Khunjerab Pass, aborder crossing located more than15,000 feet above sea level.

Balance of TradeExports to our neighbor, currentlyconsisting of textiles, leather, surgicalinstruments and minerals, are of asemi-finished nature or raw materials,hence fetching lower prices. Havingsaid that, the border city of Kashgar inXinjiang province has Pakistani goods

present in its markets, with shopsselling precious stones fromBalochistan, and cutlery, utensils andmedical equipment from other parts ofthe country.

The flow of goods and commoditiesfrom China to Pakistan consist ofelectronic goods, machinery and otherindustrial equipment. With this flow setto grow it is imperative that theKarakoram Highway go throughupgrades that strengthen itsconstruction and make it an all-weatherroad.

All of this has to happen whilstprotecting the local wildlife whoseecosystem includes endangeredspecies such as the snow leopard.Some damage has also been done tothe route owing to the disruptioncaused by the creation of Attabad Lakein Hunza. However economic plannersestimate negative fallout on trade

figures to have been restricted to$250mn.

Pakistani truckers currently transferingtheir merchandise over to Chinesevehicles at Khunjerab will now proceedfurther into China itself, saving precioustime and energy.

The formidable heights at which theKarakorum Highway presides meansthat an upgrade of this strategic roadwill not be an easy task. Notwithstanding the enormity of thechallenge, there can be no escapingthe building of capacity to handleincreased traffic flows.

Once prepared it is forecast that asizeable proportion of China’s tradewith Europe, the Middle East and Africawill pass through these routes, withthe majority of goods being made upof sectors such as electronics,machinery, furniture, textiles, garments,medical/technical equipment, plastics,vehicles, gems, precious metals andiron/steel products.

With road and rail links being of primeimportance in the China-PakistanEconomic Corridor, the importance ofair links cannot be underestimated.Pakistani commercial cargo has flownto Kashgar before, so it is conceivablethat air links between Islamabad,Gwadar, Urumqi and Kashgar will bepromoted, depending on demand andloads. Railways and highways,however, enjoy top priority in themedium term.

Indigenous labouremploymentAccording to Global Times, an Englishlanguage newspaper from China, thelabor hired in Special Economic Zones(SEZs) constructed in Africa containsmore local labor than Chinese. Henceit can be assumed that the Chinesegovernment will follow a similarparadigm in Pakistan, with the bulk ofthe manpower recruited from withinPakistan, and Chinese workers alsohelping out owing to their technicalknowhow and deadline pressuresassociated with sensitive projects.

The gates are now open for the privatesector to participate in the developmentof one of the world’s most importanttrade lanes, with early movers likelyto reshape sizeable sections ofPakistan’s logistics industry.



Digital Printing and Bulk MailSolutionTCS has state-of-the-art facilitiescapable of printing up to 2 millionimpressions and 600,000 stuffing ofenvelopes in less than 24 hours. This,along with duplex printing (theeffective printing of both sides of onepaper) and customized printingsolutions such as data receiving,designing and formatting as percustomer preferences, aim to ensuremaximum ease and flexibility atminimum cost. In addition, thecompany’s stuffing machines,equipped with digitized optical mark-reader, allow the printing of virtuallyany kind of document in an efficientand smooth manner.

Tracking TechnologyTCS provides an array of variedtransportation services that arespread nationwide and ensure theeffective transport of shipments to acustomer’s desired location. Thecompany boasts 401 satellite trackedvehicles that help move up to 129million shipments every year. Thecompany’s tracking technology

enables both TCS as well as itsclients to keep track of the shipments’movements at all times.

Automated Warehousing andDistributionTCS’s multi-user warehousing facilityis spread over 650,000 sq. ft andoffers an inventory management andwarehousing process that is entirelyautomated. Customers are also ableto monitor and manage their stocksin real-time using the company’sWeb-Based Inventory ManagementSystem (WIMS).

Race to Rural ProgramTCS’s Race to Rural Program helpsto expand clients’ network andcustomer base by establishingdistribution pockets in far-flung areasthat were previously inaccessible. Inaddition, customers are provided astate-of-the-art infrastructure to helpconnect with their customers in bothrural and semi-urban areas.

Web-based Customer FacilitationPortalCustomers interested in managing

From Trucking to Warehousing and Inventory

Management, from Express Delivery to Retail

Distribution, Mail Room Management, Bulk Printing

and Stuffing, we offer flexible end-to-end supply

chain solutions to customers to expand their

businesses and improve their operating efficiencies.

Each stage of the process hasbeen designed to add valueto the product as well asguarantee its smoothtransport from point A to pointB. These stages include:

> Raw Material Storage andWarehousing

> Inventory Packaging andValue Added Services

> Mail Management

> Order Fulfillment

> Tracking and Technology

> Distribution

> Warranty Management

> Cash-on-Delivery services

> E-com Retail Platform

At the cutting edge

TCS Supply Chain Advisory


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their business online are able to benefit from TCS’s CustomerFacilitation Portal that provides them with a one-stop solutionto all their supply chain needs.

The online facility allows clients to easily place an order withthe company, track it at different times of the day, register aquery or a complaint related to the shipment and even chatwith a TCS representative over business transaction details.

With this new development in its business frameworks, TCSplans to further strengthen its integration with other companiesin Pakistan and become a preferred long-term and integralsupply chain partner for them.

Supply chain management holds high significance, especiallyin today’s fast-paced world, where companies are vying forthe customer’s attention. This is because effective supplychain management ultimately helps to boost customer serviceas it involves a process that guarantees the delivery of theright product and quantity to the right consumer in a timelyfashion. In addition, effective supply chain management helpsincrease the bottom line. A firm’s supply chain managers candecrease the use of large fixed assets such as plants,warehouses and transportation vehicles, thereby decreasingthe organization’s cost of production and increasing its liquidity.

Let TCS align your ‘wagon’ for optimal results!

Call us Now! 111 123 456

Introducing our new service

Need for speed in theglobal village

TCS Hazir acknowledges andcelebrates the fast-paced lives ofpeople today for whom time is of theessence, providing them with whatthey want, when they want it. TCSHazir is a concierge service devotedto delivering beyond customers’expectations.

Through TCS Hazir, customers cancall a courier to pick up the shipmentfrom their home or office. TCS Haziris tasked with collecting and bookingthe shipment from the customer’slocation in a matter of just 60 minutes.The service is applicable to all kindsof shipments, including general,international and Sentiments Express.

Aladin-ka-Chiraag!

We have launched TCS Hazir inKarachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi andIslamabad. In the first phase,customers can summon us via:

• TCS Call Centre• TCS Web App• TCS Mobile App

The second phase will providecustomers with the additional optionof SMS, making the chore of shippingpackages all the more convenient andeasy. In the third phase we’d in allprobability see the TCS Teleport App,turning TCS Hazir into Aladin-ka-Chiraag!

According to data from the latestEconomic Survey of Pakistan,transport, storage and communicationenjoy the second biggest share of GDPat 13.7%, next to the retail sector. Thecollective contribution of the servicessector – at 57.7% - is more than thatof agriculture and industry combined.

One Window Operation

TCS has a total of 14 businesses whichencompass Express & Logistics, MailManagement Solutions, Gifts &Greetings, Air Freight Solutions, SupplyChain, Visa Delivery, Travel Services,and Corporate Training & EventManagement.

With a nationwide network of 10,000+professionals (including over 4000

couriers), over 740 TCS ExpressCenters (retail outlets) and nearly2000+ online and offline locations,TCS is the first preference for thoseusing courier services. Now, you don’tcourier a package; you simply ‘TCS’it!

Designer Lawn & CricketJerseys in 60 minutes!

TCS Hazir created magic by offeringcustomers never-seen-before 60minutes deliveries at their doorstepsin Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad andRawalpindi during the World Cup 2015.It was without doubt a huge successas the 60-minute online shoppingmodel was the first of its kind inPakistan; customers ordered onlineduring the matches and could weartheir World Cup Jerseys in 60 minutesor less! The same excited customers’response was witnessed when the 60-minutes delivery was offered for oneof the most famous lawn brands inPakistan which launched its firstcollection of 2015.



Time is money; Time is of the essence; Time sensitivity is at the heartof the TCS success story that puts the TCS customers at the center ofthe TCS universe. Small wonder, then, that TCS is focused on gettingto the customer ever faster, torrential rain and high waternotwithstanding.

TCS Hazir (‘Hazir’ is an Urdu word which, in literal terms, means ‘present’) is a pick-up and delivery service available24/7, where the courier comes for the purpose of delivery or pick-up right to the customer’s doorstep in 60 minutes,and no more. We would personally prefer to be there in 60 seconds, and be for our valued customers that whichthe Lamp and its Genie were to Aladin. Time and Technology are driving paradigm changes in our times, and thepossibilities are limitless. Teleportation may yet make TCS Hazir the 60 Seconds Man!

TCS Hazir



The TCS ‘We Move You’ campaign has connected at adeeper level with millions of Pakistanis across the country

The thought behind our recent advertisements

A young girl on her wedding dayis a bundle of nerves; abusinessman’s aspirations forfuture success have him onedge; a boy’s wish to expresshis affection to his one true lovehas butterflies running riot inhis tummy! And a mother’sdesire to provide the best forher child is making her anxious.No matter what the distance,these are just some of theoccasions that many peoplehold very close to their hearts,and because of that they needreassurance that their needs willbe met with care andconsideration.

In Pakistan, where there is anemotive element attached tovirtually every aspect of aperson’s life, the sentimentsbehind such events increasetenfold as each represents an

important turning point.

Every shipment super specialEach one of the 129 million shipmentsthat TCS moves every year has a

special significance, and this fact isnot lost upon us. We at TCS are highlysensitized to the all important humanfactor behind each and every shipment.In our pursuit of excellence we arecommitted to nurturing highperformance teams that can bringdown to zero the margin for error, andget it right first time, every time in theservice of our most valued customers.

M.A. Mannan, the President & CEO ofTCS Holdings says that he did a lot ofresearch on the global logistics andcourier industry before he joined TCS,and came to the conclusion thatcustomers were looking for on-timedeliveries and shipment packing. It’sthat simple, he felt, and in that simplicityhe thought that the TCS universe wasat stake.

Mother’s tender & loving care“However, during an orientation sessionI witnessed something firsthand at anExpress Center which changed myperception of the service industry,” hesays. “As I was standing there I sawa mother come in to ship a shirt to herson a thousand miles away. As ourExpress Center staff quickly put it intothe Red Box, she leaned over thecounter and fixed that shirt just a littlebit. I thought to myself that this shirtwas going to travel via truck to an

airplane, to another truck, onto acourier’s motorbike, and then bedelivered. But all the mother caredabout was just that one little creaseon the shirt which she wanted to bejust right for her son.”

In that one moment M.A. Mannanrealized that TCS was not in theshipments business, nor the parcelsbusiness, but that TCS was, and isin the emotions business.

Age of personalizedrelationships“We live in a world which is gettingcommoditized very quickly,” said M.A.Mannan. “In my previous career as abanker I came to know whatcommoditized means. Each branchoffering the same thing, but the branchoffering greater service gets moredeposits and assets.” That has neverbeen truer than right now, with themarketplace maturing at a rapid paceand demanding a personalizedrelationship with those who seek toserve it.

We at TCS provide the assurance ourcustomers seek with generous serviceguarantees, regular follow-up andspeedy follow-through on any queriesor complaints. That is how ‘We MoveYou’.

For the purpose of allowing

Pakistani consumers to benefit from

access to a wide range of products

via a convenient and easy-to-use

system, TCS has launched a one-

of-a-kind online shopping

experience, aptly titled, ‘Yayvo.com’.

it’s a name that is based on a loose

translation of ‘This and That’,

Yayvo.com provides customers with

the ease of either choosing from

the range of products already

offered on the site (Yay) or

requesting the Yayvo team to get

you what you want (Vo).

E-commerce and mobile commercehave dramatically changed the waybrands reach customers, making itfaster and easier for consumers tomake purchases on the fly whileavoiding the hassles of going to thestore” says Hil Davis, Co-founder,online men’s retailer J. Hilburn.

The ‘Yay’ and the ‘Vo’ of it!

A representation of what is fast comingto be known as the future of

e-commerce in Pakistan, Yayvo.comfollows a unique strategy of stockingup on items which have populardemand (or which get a ‘Yay!’ fromcustomers) and adding the ones thataren’t frequently ordered to the Vosection. If a particular product in theVo category becomes a popular itemamongst customers, it is immediatelyadded to the shelf for the Yay category.

Amid so many other online shoppingsites that have cropped up in recentyears, Yayvo.com stands out asperhaps the only online shoppingwebsite to offer customers a multi-dimensional shopping experience whilesimultaneously allowing them tochoose from a broad range of products,including electronics, mobiles andgadgets, beauty items, apparel (forboth men and women), home décor,lifestyle items, books, edible items andmore.

With specially trained customer servicestaff, cash on delivery of up to Rs.100,000, an extensive networkincluding places such as the U.S, UKand UAE, three-way ordering process

and a 7-day return policy,customers are now gettingthe chance to benefit fromonline shopping like neverbefore.

At ease with shoppingonline

In today’s technologicallyadvanced age, it hasbecome incredibly easy to

gain access to virtually any and everytype of information related to a person’sinterests. All it takes is a click of abutton or a swipe on the screen andpresto! Anything you could possiblywant to know about is there for yourviewing pleasure.The same holds true for onlineshopping; with increased access toattractive products and services via ahighly convenient and user-friendlyprocess conducted entirely online,many customers are now at ease withshopping online.

Greater customer satisfaction

The arrival of Yayvo.com signals aturning point in what leadingbusinesses today know about e-commerce. Presently, various expertshave highlighted a number of potentiale-commerce-related trends for 2015,many of which center on customers’increased use of smartphones andtheir calling the shots, thus compellingmany a retailer to bring something newto the table.

With Yayvo.com TCS gives customersa unique proposition amidst a rangeof options already present in themarket. By offering them with only whatthey want, when they want it, andallowing them to interact with the sitevia a seamless, user-friendly process,TCS is bound to capitalize on thechanging trends of e-commerce andattain success in terms of greatercustomer satisfaction and increasedrevenue.

TCS’s



galvanizes e-commerceOne-of-a-kind online shopping experience courtesy TCS

Our new business initiative


Aman Ambulance ServiceReady for Gear ChangeAman’s EMS service continues toexpand as more and more strategicalliances are formed between AmanFoundation and entities, both locallyand internationally. Since its inceptionin 2008, Aman Foundation hasestablished an ambulance fleet nowconsisting of more than 80+ AdvancedLife Saving (ALS) ambulancesthroughout Karachi. However, the needfor more ambulances persists; if Amanfoundation is to cater to the whole city’semergency-care needs, an anticipatedquadrupling isrequired.

Among the firstfew organizationsto recognize thedire need toaugment emergency ambulatory care,the Habib Bank Foundation, andinternationally from the Governmentof Japan, have taken the initiative tomake local grants to the Aman

Foundation, goinginto the purchase ofadding newambulances to theexisting fleet.

The Government of Japanthrough its embassy inKarachi made a donation of twonew ambulances to the AmanFoundation in collaboration with ToyotaIndus Motors.

Slowly, but surely, the AmanFoundation is finding its feet in theservice of suffering humanity.

“An anticipated quadrupling of AdvancedLife Saving (ALS) ambulances is requiredfor Karachi to close the existing gap in

services needed”

Aman Health’s EMSservices Best in Asia!‘Best Asian EmergencyMedical Service’ Award forAman Health’s 1021 AmanAmbulances

In October 2014 the AsianEmergency Medical ServiceCouncil selected AmanFoundation to receive theprestigious award of the ‘BestAsian Emergency MedicalService’ for Aman Health’s 1021Aman Ambulances. The awardrecognizes the contributions ofAman Health’s EMS servicesas compared to its peers acrossAsia. This is the first time aPakistani institution has beenrecognized by the AEMSC, andis an ode to the operationalexcellence and credo of servicewith dignity that AmanAmbulance personifies. ThisPan-Asian award waspresented by ProfessorHideharu Tanaka in Goa, India.Bravo!

Habib Bank Foundation & Government ofJapan Lend a Hand

Good Samaritan

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Tauqir Ahmed is the ChiefExecutive Officer of DuPontPakistan Operations (Pvt.)Ltd. (DPOL), a subsidiary ofE.I. du Pont de Nemours andCompany, U.S.A., and theimmediate past president ofthe American BusinessCouncil (ABC).

Since its inception, DuPont'sprimary focus in the regionis Agriculture, Automotive,Packaging and IndustrialPolymers. Today DuPontfocuses on all industries inPakistan including food,construction, energy andtransportation.

Wide range of offeringsDuPont Pakistan markets a wide rangeof offerings including Crop ProtectionProducts, Liquid Packaging Systems,Solae™ soy proteins, TitaniumTechnologies, Performance Coatings,Packaging & Industrial Polymers, GlassLaminating Solutions, EngineeringPolymers, Surfaces, Advanced FiberSystems, Personal Protection,Nonwovens, Chemical Solutions,Safety Resources, Clean andDisinfectants, Imaging technologies,Flouro Products and Ink & SpecialityColorants in varied market segmentsof agriculture, food and nutrition; homeand construction; safety and protection;transportation and infrastructure,bringing to life its powerful philosophyof The miracles of science™ to createa better living for all.

Headquartered in Karachi, DPOLstarted its operations in 1989 and ispresent in Pakistan now for over 20years. DuPont has expanded its

presence to Lahore, Pioneer PakistanSeed Plant in Sahiwal and DuPontRefinish Training Centre in Karachi.DuPont’s vision is to be the world'smost dynamic science company,creating sustainable solutions essentialto a better, safer and healthier life forpeople everywhere.

Spearheadingstrategic growthTauqir Ahmed started his career atDuPont as a Business DevelopmentManager, playing a key role inspearheading the strategic growth ofDuPont in Pakistan, and rising inprominence in new growth projects.He was appointed to his currentposition in January 2008, and has beeninstrumental in generating impressivegrowth for the Company.

With a Bachelor’s in BusinessAdministration, Tauqir brings to the job16 years of professional experience inSales, Marketing, Operations andbusiness leadership. He wasassociated with 3M in differentcapacities before joining DuPont, andis a certified Six Sigma professional.Tauqir has chaired the HR sub-committee of the ABC in an electedcapacity for the fourth time. Hismemberships include Crop LifePakistan and the Overseas InvestorsChamber of Commerce and Industry[OICCI].

Harley Davidson ownerOn a personal level Tauqir is fitnessconscious and works out in a gym sixdays a week. His passion extends tomotorcycles of the heavy variety, and

Tauqir Ahmed

MULTINATIONAL MAN

Celebrating our customers


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he has owned a Harley Davidson WideGlide 1340cc for a number of yearsnow, and is in the process of restoringfrom scratch a Honda 350cc Trail thatonce served as the mainstay of Armydispatch riders. Tauqir is married withtwo children.

Internal selling of PakistanTauqir is a great believer in team work,and has developed high performanceteams at DuPont Pakistan. “One of theconstant challenges that is faced byall the leaders of multinationalcompanies in Pakistan is the internalselling of Pakistan to the regionalmanagement. The uncertaintiesinherent in doing business in Pakistandue to shifting policy goalposts,coupled with security issues andpolitical unrest, makes it a tough sell.In this regard I have been able to steerwell, and succeeded in bringingDupont’s top leadership to Pakistan,and there has been a continuous flowof investment into Pakistan in the lastcouple of years, both in terms of assetsand investment in people. We havevery successfully added new teammembers and enhanced our footprintin new industries, bringing state of theart technologies and B2B products.”

DuPont is an over 212 years oldorganization and there is nocompromise on our long term strategicgoals, says Tauqir. ”I personally do notbelieve in micro-management. Webelieve 100% in our employees. If anybusiness is not able to meet top orbottom line numbers then we work onthe assumption that there has to be avalid justification for it, and look intoresolving its root cause. Top line,Bottom line and resources added arethe three important numbers for me.”

Prioritizing peopleFiring an employee Tauqir considersthe toughest part of his job. “It is alwaysdue to some wrong decisions madeby the hiring supervisor at the time ofinitial candidate selection. One shouldnever rush the hiring process and notcompromise on the best fit for the role.”Training is the key for peopledevelopment, in Tauqir’s view, and hefeels the ROI is beyond measure, with

the financial proof of it clearly visiblein the double digit growth experiencedby DuPont Pakistan for the last manyyears. “DuPont has its own dedicatedtraining teams very aggressivelyworking on the different developmentneeds of our employees, from specificbusinesses to across functions needs.”

On the issue of succession planningTauqir sees a future leader in eachemployee of his organization. “AtDuPont we strongly believe inencouraging people to take the spacefor finding extra work, and that’s howany individual can position him orherself as my successor. The nextgeneration of leaders can only bedeveloped through their 100%empowerment on key positions whileproviding them global exposure todevelop out-of-the-box thinkingcapabilities.”

Getting things doneTauqir’s favourite book is ‘Execution’by authors Larry Bossidy (formerChairman and CEO of HoneywellInternational) and Ram Charan (authorof ‘What the CEO wants you to know’).When Execution was first published in2002, it changed the way people didtheir jobs. By analysing the discipline

of execution, it helped thousands ofbusiness people to make the final leapto success by focusing on actuallygetting things done.

In the year 2000, 40 CEOs of the Top200 Fortune 500 companies were letgo. This is because sometimes evensmart, highly regarded people fail toproduce critical results. Results theypromised to deliver. Bossidy andCharan believe this is fast becomingan epidemic due not to the volatility orunpredictability of the businessenvironment, but to the directconsequence of the lack of execution.The thesis here is that execution – thereal job of business leaders and thekey discipline for success today –bridges the gap between what leaderswant to achieve and the ability of theirorganizations to deliver it. An essentialread indeed for business leaders inemerging economies.

Tauqir’s message to aspiring CEOs is“be yourself; don’t let your natural styleof thinking and managing matters betoo influenced by someone else. Begenuine; don’t change yourself and letothers get comfortable with the realyou – it will make both yours and otherpeople’s lives easy.”

Interviewed by A

dil Ahm

ad



We feature high drama in real life witha plethora of very potent andimmensely inspiring messages. It’s thestory of 23 year old Samina Baig, agirl from the remote Shimshal villagein the Gilgit-Baltistan region. It is a taleof raw courage and greatdetermination, a true embodiment ofthe TCS spirit. It is a story of what awoman can achieve in a conservativePakistani society when she has theblessings and active support of themale members of her family, which inSamina Baig’s case is her elder brotherMirza Ali Baig, the man who trainedher and set her on her path to extremeself-actualization.

Samina Baig is the first Pakistaniwoman, and the third Pakistani afterace mountaineer Nazir Sabir andHassan Sadpara, to hoist the Pakistanflag on the mighty Everest, the world’stallest mountain. She is also the onlyPakistani to have conquered thehighest points of all seven continents.

The place where Samina comes from

has no electricity, no telephones andno internet. She was fascinated by themountain stories and climbingadventures her brother shared withher. He engrained in her the view thatmountaineering was a metaphor, andthat everyone had his or her ownmountains to climb, alluding to thehighs and lows that life offers.

Samina’s aim is to motivate women allover Pakistan and tell them that if awoman can climb a mountain, she cando anything, and rightly so. Accordingto a survey the Samina and Mirzabrother-sister duo are the third mostpopular siblings in the country, followingQuaid-a-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnahand his sister Fatima Jinnah, and thelate pop-star Nazia Hassan and herbrother Zoheb.

In the last week of July, 2014 SaminaBaig stood at the top of Mt Elbrus, thehighest peak in Russia, with herbrother, holding the Pakistani flag highfor a picture. With this summit, the 23years old climber completed thechallenge of climbing seven of thehighest mountains around the world,including Mount Everest which sheconquered in May, 2013.

In a period of less than nine months,Samina Baig and her brothersuccessfully climbed all the six peaksincluding Mount Aconcagua, thehighest peak in South America,followed by Mount Vinson (Antarctica),Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa), PuncakJaya (Indonesia), Mount McKinley(Alaska) and Elbrus (Russia).

Samina and Mirza billed their herculeaneffort as a project that encompassedadventure diplomacy, gender equalityand women’s empowerment. It was

funded by a few passionate climbersoutside Pakistan, a few embassies inIslamabad, and managed by theSerena Hotels, with no support fromthe government of Pakistan.

In the future the duo intends to climbfive of the fourteen 8000m peaks inPakistan, and these are K2, NangaParbat, Gasherbrum I and II and BroadPeak. But for now Samina is goingback to her studies.

It’s been a long and arduous journeyfor the Baig siblings and they have hadto endure many a hardship on the routeto success. But the spirit and resolvehave remained unwavering, and theyhave steadfastly refused to take no foran answer. Samina and Mirza Ali Baighave demonstrated in all its splendidglory the ‘Can Do’ face of Pakistan,and prevailed upon daunting odds toshow the world Pakistan’s combativeand competitive spirit. Salute!

Seven Summits adventure diplomacy,gender equality and women’s empowerment

SAMINA BAIGMountaineer ExtraordinairePakistan’s high achievers



Octara Training Consultancy is asubsidiary of TCS which specializesin corporate training, workshops,seminars, conferences andpublications. A premium trainingsolutions provider that offers arange of training programs, Octarais affiliated with many leadingindustry practitioners from the UAE,UK, U.S, Australia and Bangladesh.Octara organized recently a seminarfeaturing the living legend Dr. PeterSenge, American systems scientist,senior lecturer at the MIT SloanSchool of Management, and founderof the Society for OrganizationalLearning famous for his book ‘TheFifth Discipline: The Art and Practiceof the Learning Organization,’ apublication many consider to be arevolutionary piece of work in thearea of business management. Inthe book Dr. Peter Senge hasspoken of the need for organizationsto adopt an approach that is gearedtowards learning for self-improvement, leading to long-termsuccess.

Here Peter Senge talks about the waysin which an organization can moveforward by adopting certain learningstandards as well as overcome thechallenges that are sure to arise.

In what ways can anorganization abide by thestandards of learning asdescribed in your book?

The biggest factor that drives the desirefor increased learning is aspiration; theambition to be better and perform betterin order to reach a position thatguarantees success and prosperity.Once that is in place, the next elementsthat are involved are trust andopenness. More often than not,problems remain unresolved becausepeople are either hesitant or just refuseto talk about them. In order forconstructive discussion regardingrelevant issues to take place, it isnecessary to create an environmentof openness which encourages peopleto engage in dialogue with each other,regardless of what role they mayoccupy in a particular organisation.

How important is learning,especially in the businessworld?

The implications of not learning areplain and out there for everyone tosee. If there is no learning, there is nochange. If there is no change, therecan be no progress. It’s that simple.One only has to look at severalexamples in the corporate world oforganizations that got too comfortablewith their positions in the market onlyto lose out in the end, all because theydid not possess the aspiration to learn,nor the openness and trust within theircorporate environment to facilitate theexchange of relevant information. Noother industry has held fast to this ruleas much as the IT industry. Over there,there is a general rule; to fail fast andearly. There is no limit to the numberof mistakes a business can make aslong as they learn from it early on.

What is your view oforganizations in Pakistan? Doyou believe some of them areadhering to the learning

Peter Sengeon LearningOrganizations The biggest factorthat drives the desire forincreased learning isaspiration

Empowering People


19www.tcs.com.pk

principles you have outlined inyour book?

In Pakistan, people in a position ofpower are generally given authorityover processes and decisions whileparticipative decision-making is keptto the bare minimum. Manyorganizations in Pakistan also fearuncertainty and are, hence, risk-averse.They tend to go for those practicesthat are tried and tested rather thanattempting something new. Finally,familial values have a high standing inPakistani society; elders are given theutmost respect and are, hence,charged with making sensitivedecisions with regard to business andother matters. A lot of these elementshave a huge bearing on the wayPakistani organizations do business.

Still, there are many organizations thatare breaking out of that mould andadopting a more progressive approach

towards business. This includesadapting to changing circumstancesby learning more about their internalcapabilities and their surroundingenvironment, which ultimately enablethem to develop innovative businesspractices that guarantee success andgrowth.

What can be done to overcomethe challenges related to culturethat inevitably come in the wayof doing business?

What is needed is a reflection on pastperformance and the need to inquirein order to get to the root of the problemso that real issues can be opened fordiscussion. Currently, there is too muchemphasis on the need for a heroicleader who can inspire people tochange. Such situations result in thecreation of grand strategies that arethen never fully developed. The effortto change creates resistance that finally

overcomes the effort. In addition, thereare certain misconceptions regardingthe initiation of change, which ultimatelyact as an obstacle to that very change.

The first misconception is that theremust be a compelling case for change.The second misconception is that theremust be time to change. The thirdmisconception is that there must behelp during the change process. Thefourth and final misconception is that,as the perceived barriers to changeare removed, it is important that somenew problem, that was not consideredimportant earlier or was evenrecognized, doesn’t become a criticalbarrier. Organizations must do awaywith these common misconceptions ifthey wish to initiate change within theircorporate environments and create aplatform to instill positive learning.

Courtesy



TCS Thanks You!

Faraz Ahmed

Unit Head Statement Rendition

We take the opportunity to

congratulate the whole TCS team on

the occasion of successful completion

of 32 flourishing years in the field of

express and logistics industry.

MCB Bank Limited has always

enjoyed appreciable professional

standards while availing services from

TCS (Pvt) Ltd.

Shahid Aziz KhanFleet & Facilities Manager

Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited is proudto work with TCS, Pakistan s leading CourierCompany. PTC has been working with TCSfor a long time, and we have found them tobe an extremely competent and cooperativecompany to work with.

Ather ul IslamChief Operating OfficerEcompk.com

Ecom has been using TCS now forthe past two years. They have beenby far the best shipping company thatwe have worked with. Since startingwith TCS our damages havediminished considerably. Not only do

they do a great job in that department,we have also found them to beextremely professional with cash ondelivery handling.

ECOM

We have always found TCS focused at

customer satisfaction and the deliverables

are well monitored to achieve this benchmark

as market leader. We wish TCS a long

successful journey, second to none.

- Zong Official

Mustafa HamdaniSEVP and Group Head PaymentServices

In response to the flood crisis inSeptember 2014, the Government ofPunjab initiated a Cash Relief Programto support affected households in theirrecovery efforts. PKR 12 Billion weredisbursed in a record time of 15 daysand this was not possible without thesupport and partnership of TCS.

We feel proud in working with TCS asthey were there with us on ground andevery member was involved deeply inthe project; I believe if it were not TCS,it would have been a logistic disaster.

What our customers say


21www.tcs.com.pk

Rashid

Director

We have always received quality service

from TCS. TCS just knew what to do

next to move us forward as a greater

company.

SHIFA BUILDERS & DEVELOPERS

Mr. Muhammad Ahmed, Sr. Manager

Finance

I can confidently claim that TCS has

raised the competition level in its industry.

MEEZAN BUILDERS & DEVELOPERS

Mr. Nisar Ahmed SiddiquiDirector

TCS Pvt Ltd has lifted their brand nameto the next level of excellence whilemaintaining the confidentiality and quality.The team of vastly experiencedprofessionals in TCS has demonstrated

their wisdom and intellect towards thisproject efficiently which enable us considerTCS for more projects in future.

Wajahat Ali Hussaini

Senior Manager Administration

Yet another successful year of TCS and at

this auspicious occasion we once again

sincerely appreciate the continuity of high

level of services throughout the year. During

the year we have seen TCS coming across

various unexpected challenges; however,

their due diligence paved the way and met

those challenges with wisdom and

professionalism.

Faisal bin FasihSenior Manager Finance OperationsWe have been working with TCS fromthe last one decade and they havealways provided us with satisfactoryservices. We consider TCS as abusiness partner as TCS understands

our business model and provides uswith the best customized solution tofulfill our requirements. TCS has beenthe champion and continues to showits potential. We feel privileged to be abusiness partner of TCS.

Muhammad Shabbir ShahidAssistant Controller

The Allama Iqbal Open University, with theever changing environment, is trying toadopt better and effective technologies sothat it is able to discharge its part of thecommitment for delivering better educationto the masses of Pakistan so that they areable to play their positive role in the society.

Keeping in view this guideline, wedecided to use plastic seals for thecloth bags in which question papersare sent in place of wax sealing andstitching. I would like to take thisopportunity to thank the TCS authoritieswho have been very kind enough toprovide 1000 pieces of these plasticseals for this purpose. It would not beout of place to commend the effortsmade by TCS for timely delivery ofexamination materials for Autumn-2014semester by special transportarrangements to Balochistan regionwhere there had been a transport strike.



TCS makes sure that it remainsconnected at the grassroots withits frontline staff to ensure thewell-being and satisfaction ofits customers. All of that whichTCS has achieved it attributesto the tireless efforts andservices of its 4000-plus SalesSolicitors, our red knights onmechanical steedscrisscrossing the TCSnationwide Network in hotpursuit of customer satisfaction.

Nurturing the FrontlineCouriers who had served TCS for morethan 1 year were handed the keys tothe motorcycles by the chairman TCSMr. Khalid Awan and the President &CEO of TCS Mr. M.A. Mannan at

various launch events held nationwide.

Nation-wide CheerDhoom distribution ceremonies wereheld during April and May 2015 inKarachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multanand Sukkur, with every department atTCS joining hands to make the projectsuccessful. Thank you Operations,Treasury & Corporate Finance, HR,Administration, Fleet, Marketing andCorporate Affairs.

Dubai Islamic Bank & Pakistan StateOil lend a handFunding came from TCS’s bankingpartner, Dubai Islamic Bank, which

extended a PKR 100 million facility forthe procurement of 2000-plus Dhoommotorbikes, along with comprehensiveinsurance provided by Century

Insurance, and fuel cards from fuelpartners Pakistan State Oil (PSO) tobe utilized at more than 3,500 PSOpetrol stations across Pakistan.

‘Jhappi’ time!A standard operating procedure wasadopted for the bikes distributionwhereby each Bike was to bepresented by a representative of theLeadership team, and before the bikewas presented there had to be aJHAPPI (big hug) given to therespective courier with a photographtaken and sent to him. To top off theproceedings all the couriers who hadreceived the bikes were to be takenon a short group ride to enjoy their firstouting together.

TCS troopers in high spirits!2000 plus Brand NewDawood Yamaha DhoomMotorbikes for TCS Sales Solicitors

Those who serve you

Frontline Staff activities

23www.tcs.com.pk




Asma Shaikh is a seasoned HRprofessional with over twenty yearsof experience in banking,pharmaceuticals, energy, healthcareand education, Asma prior to joiningTCS worked as Group Head, HumanResources at NIB Bank Limited.

She has also worked in leadershiproles at Barclays Bank, DubaiIslamic Bank Limited Pakistan,HSBC & Deutsche Bank AG.

Asma Shaikh is a certified MBTIprofessional from IHS Dubai andhas received top gradingaccreditation from Barclays UK. Sheis also a qualified OccupationalPersonality Assessmentprofessional from SHL, Hong Kongas well as a PerformanceManagement expert from AchieveGlobal, Singapore.

Asma married Shahnawaz Shaikhin 1992 and has two sons, Omar

Shaikh (21) & Hamza Shaikh (17).

CONNECT caught up with Asma anddelved into how she views life andhow she has successfullymaintained work-life balance allthese years.

CONNECT: One word that perfectlydescribes you as a person.

AS: I believe the word ‘positive’describes me the best. Having workedin different locations across the globein different capacities and with differentpeople, I have dealt with a multitudeof situations that have tested my mettle.Positive attitude has kept me goingthroughout.

CONNECT: How are you as a parent?

AS: I believe I am a very hands-onmother for my two sons. My schedulecan become quite hectic; however, westill manage to spend quality timetogether and I make sure that I amalways there for them.

CONNECT: What takes most of yourtime when you are not at work?

AS: When I am not at work, I makesure that I leave the pressures of workat the office. I try to do my best tospend most of my time with close familyand friends.

CONNECT: What is your idea of anideal vacation?

AS: I believe if you have the right kindof people with you, any place can bea great vacation spot. In my case, myfamily is my ultimate companion. Welove travelling and have been to many

places around the world. Even thoughI sometimes find myself in places likefootball stadiums and wildlife safarisbecause of my two sons, I still wouldn’tchange it for anything in the world.

CONNECT: Had you been a brand,what would you be?

AS: I would have definitely been aFerrari - exclusive and extremely quick.

CONNECT: One person who inspiresyou the most.

AS: My father has served as a greatsource of inspiration throughout mylife. Whatever I do, whether it is at theworkplace or at home with my family,is a direct result of how he led his life.

CONNECT: What is that one attributethat has played a crucial role in makingyou successful?

AS: I think one of the most importantthings to remember when it comes toensuring success in the corporatearena is that one must possess acertain level of empathy; if you areable to see things from the otherperson’s perspective, you will be ableto make informed decisions that benefitboth parties. Therefore, I believe thatone of the major reasons for mysuccess is that I genuinely care aboutpeople. Other than that, I am focused,decisive and extremely result-oriented.

CONNECT: Who has been a pillar ofsupport for you in your professionaljourney?

AS: For working women specially, oursociety and culture poses several

Those who serve you

Heart to Heart with Director HR


25www.tcs.com.pk

TCS aspires to bethe “Best HRCompany in Pakistanfor its Employees andEntry Level Staffthrough Growth,Development andMotivation. To haveCareer Planning forAll.”– TCS HR Mission Statement

The TCS Director HR, Asma Shaikh,gathered under one roof 40 membersof the TCS HR Department, who cametogether from across the nationwideTCS Network, to meet and greet, andalign with the new thinking at the helmof affairs. The setting was off-site, at‘The Arena’, a one of a kind indoorrecreational facility in Karachi that offersrock climbing, ice skating, crazy golfand paintball warfare amongst otherthings that include a sumptuous buffet.Knowing, Synergizing, and Strategizing

was in focus on this occasion. M.A.Mannan, the President and CEO TCSHoldings-turned-trainer for the day, isin the habit of mincing very few words,and the ‘brutal truth’ that he offers canshock and awe the most sturdy ofbrave hearts.

“Gone are the days when systemsstayed in place for 20 years andmatters proceeded in predictablefashion,” said Mannan as he movedup and down the aisle, flanked by HRpractitioners, some old hands andsome new inductees, requiring of themto stay in front of him and facing him,causing in the process a frequentchange in the physical paradigm of thesetting as attendees were subjectedto often rigorous exercise and deniedthe comfort of staying glued to theirseats and catching forty winks duringthe proceedings.

“No more. Now paradigms arechanging rapidly, and the organizationhas to realign with speed. Speed ofaction is often more important thangetting it absolutely right. It’s not justabout the people; it’s about the rightpeople with the right motivation… We

move 129 million shipments in a year.Moving is that one TCS move thatmatters most, and we must relentlesslypractice it, and become better at it thananyone else around. Focusing on‘delivering beyond customerexpectations’ will make TCS truechampions.”

“Strategy is knowing what to do, andwhat not to do, and the extra mile onlycounts when the first mile has beentraversed properly” came another shortburst of meaningful truth. “The endstate that we strive for is to becomethe best HR Company in Pakistan. HRshould be familiar with what theCompany does. Management and HRneed to be in synch. We need to speakthe brutal truth when stating groundreality. Know your way and the threatswill vanish.”

The Vision enunciated at the HR off-site was simple and to the point –‘Delivering beyond customerexpectations’, with the word ‘delivering’deliberately included to honour theCourier.

A very comprehensive TCS HoldingsStrategy was unveiled, circulated,brainstormed and war-gamed, to berolled out in two phases over a threeyears period. Where TCS HRfunctionaries were concerned, thebottom-line was unambiguous – TCSto be the best HR Company in Pakistanfor entry level, growth, staff focus andmotivation, with career planning for all.

challenges and hurdles. I must saythat had it not been for the support,encouragement and trust of myhusband, I might not have been ableto do all that I have achieved so far.He has been my pillar of supportthroughout, and now it is my children.

CONNECT: Cite one incident fromyour life that makes you feel proud ofyourself. Something that makes you

feel elevated and spirited.

AS: I don’t think I am in a position toquote any one incident; Allah has beentoo kind in granting me, not one, butseveral opportunities. Being an HRperson, I feel privileged that I am in aposition where I can make a positiveimpact on the lives of people. I devisemethods and frameworks that enableemployees to work smartly and more

efficiently while at the same time alsotake into consideration their needs andpreferences in order to ensuremaximum satisfaction on the job. Thatis something that makes me extremelyproud of what I do.

Thank you Asma for the privilege ofthis interview.


27www.tcs.com.pk

Ali Asghar Kayani is agenuine mint in gold celebrityat TCS these days. He hascompleted 30 years ofuninterrupted service withTCS that has seen him risefrom the entry level CourierOfficer’s job that he took onthe 10th of July, 1985, to thepost of the TCS RegionalDirector Operations (North),to which he was promoted inApril 2011. Born on the 15thof November, 1965, AliAsghar Kayani is the son ofMuhammad Akbar Kayani.

Keeping the 24/7 logistics enterprisein motion in his sprawling North Region,that extends from Gujranwala & Sialkotto Mirpur and Azad Kashmir Areaincluding Murree , Muzffarabad andAbbotabad, going up to Gilgit andSakurdu; In the KPK province the TCSNorth Region covers Bunnu , Kohatand Peshawar, going up to Swat and

Chitral, including the tribal agencies.The twin cities of Rawalpindi andIslamabad, including their suburbs,also fall within his ambit. Ali Asghardeploys a young and motivatedworkforce numbering 3000 strong TCSgo-getters in the multicultural NorthRegion.

On the 10th of July 2015 the TCSManagement threw Ali Asghar an Iftarbash at Karachi’s Marriot Hotel,attended by a broad cross section ofhis colleagues and clients. It was amajor milestone in his life, and adefining moment no doubt. There wereno speeches or the waiting on formality.The camaraderie and the beingamongst friends over some deliciousfood, after a day spent fasting, was allthat was needed.

Personal

Ali Asghar is a man who finds it hardto escape notice. Six feet and five

inches tall and well built to bootweighing in at 102 kilograms, he cutsa formidable figure, literally standinghead and shoulders above the rest inany roomful, except perhaps a roomfulof NBA basketball players! Basketball,however, doesn’t appear anywhere inhis resume, but swimming and tennishe enjoys engaging in, with readingcited as a hobby. He is married withfour children, all sons. MuhammadZahid and Muhammad Waleed arepreparing to graduate, whileMuhammad Saad is in O levels andAbdul Rehman is in class three. Mrs.Ali Asghar is a government servantand teaches in a school, and theyreside in Korang Town in Islamabad.

On the cerebral front Ali Asghar startedout as an avid reader of Ibn-e-Safi’snovels, and then graduated to ShahabNama by Qudrat ullah Shahab. Careercompulsions now have him focusedon Management related books, withJim Collins and Stephen Covey his in

From Courier Officer to Regional Director Operations

TCS’s TOWERING KAYANI30 Years in the Making

Those who serve you

As Courier Officer in 1986

Receiving the Top Management’s appreciation (President’s Award) for a job very well done



vogue authors. On the dietary front heis partial to vegetables and rice, andbarbecued meats.

Courier times

Joining TCS as a Courier Officer, AliAsghar served TCS in uniform for threeyears, and considers these veryexciting times. “It was my first job andthere was great commitment andenergy in the team which kept usmotivated through tough times. Despite

the resource gap we were determinedto set new benchmarks of service inthe market that nobody could meet. Itwas not just about earning money anddelivering shipments. We weresensitized to the nobleness of whatwe were doing by fulfilling the trustwhich our customers were placing inus. The timely delivery of eachshipment in proper condition was ourfirst and last target and mission.”

“We normally worked from 7am to11pm without showing any signs oftiredness. Despite the tough workinghours every one was very happy. Iremember JJ sahab, who was our AreaBusiness Manager at that time, alwaysmotivating us by saying ‘young man,you are creating history, and you aresecond to none’ These words werelike fuel for all of us. We were veryyoung and emotional, and he wasalways there to appreciate our efforts

and consol us in our times of need. Allour other seniors were just like familymembers.”

Ali Asghar carries a scar from his daysworking as a courier officer, andKashmir Plaza in Islamabad’s BlueArea has retained a permanent placein his memory, reminded of it eachtime he looks at his hand. It was amomentary lapse of concentration thatcaused his hand to get stuck in thedoor of the elevator on the third floor,

leaving a trail of blood as the elevatordescended to the ground floor. Beforehe lost consciousness his concernswere not for himself, but for his TCSbag and the urgent deliveries that hehad to make as he requested hisrescuers to ensure that the bag wasdelivered to the TCS office.

“I believe that passion and ownershipis the hallmark of the TCS teams at alltimes. I was taken to hospital and therewas a long procedure of operationsthat left a scar on my right wrist thathas always reminds me of mycommitment to my organization. Thereare hundreds of others who work inreally tough situations day and nightto make TCS the nation’s pride.”

Mentors &Management style

Ali Asghar Kayani, looking back over

his 30 years, credits his learning andgrowth to his superiors at TCS. “Myspecial tribute for Mr. Jamil Janjua (JJsahab), all time great teacher andleader who groomed me as well aslots of others in TCS (May Allah givehim health and long life, ameen. FromSyed Irtiza.A Alvi sahab and Moin Maliksahab we learnt a lot. Saqib Hamdanisahab was a caring boss and gavespace to perform. Shafiq Malik sahabalways leads from the front, and hisbelief in his people and Team is reallyexceptional. Although I have notworked with Mannan sahib for verylong, I am inspired by him and the wayhe injects energy into the team. Hehas understanding of the business,and is a caring and committed boss.”

He says he believes in team buildingand motivating teams to optimizeavailable resources. He involvespeople in decision-making andencourages them to take ownership.Above all, he considers important everymember in the team, and feel that eachone deserves to be heard and valued.

Service Record

The 30 years of experience which AliAsghar has accumulated at TCS hasencompassed Sales, Operations andBusiness Management Positions, witha focus on Business planning,Operations excellence, Costoptimization and Processreengineering.

As Regional Director Operations heensures that the key performanceindicators and service levels stayahead of the curve, aligning the supportdepartments with Core objectives.Defining standard operatingprocedures, and ensuring thateveryone in his region is on the samepage is a major chore, along withProjects Planning and executionthrough Area heads. Overseeing thePreparation of the Annual Budget andengaging in Cost Optimization

As Courier Officer standing in the last row with Area Manager Jamil Janjua in 1987


29www.tcs.com.pk

exercises in the Region is an equallyimportant part of his job description, alongwith Hiring of Resources and theirplacements; Vender Management; and theGeneral Management of the Region.

On his way to his present assignment AliAsghar has served as Area Business HeadGujranwala, Faisalabad & Rawalpindi (June2005 – April 2011); Regional ManagerOverLand Express, Logistics Division (Sept2004 – June 2005); Station Manager OverLand Express (Dec 1999 to Sept 2004);Manager Sales Overland Business Unit (Jan1996 to Dec 1999); Manager OperationsExpress Division Islamabad (1989 – 1996).

Between 1985 and 1989 Ali Asghar workedin different positions in Operations,Collections, and Security. Starting his careeras Courier Officer in Islamabad on the 10thof July 1985, he was promoted as RecoverOfficer after one and half years. He thenworked as Security Officer for one year andas Operations Controller for two Years.

Education

Ali Asghar has a Master in BusinessAdministration EMBA (Marketing) that heacquired in 2004 from PIMSAT Islamabad.In 1995 he got his Bachelor of Arts from thePunjab University; in 1984 he got his HigherSecondary School Certificate with emphasison Economics and Geography from theRawalpindi Board, and in 1982 he acquiredhis Secondary School Certificate in Science.

Professional Training

An impressive list of corporate marketing,management and leadership gurus featurein Ali Asghar’s CV. These are great mindswhose minds he has picked to his great goodfortune, and include AG Saeed, KhalidHussain, Dr. Peter Senge, Saadi Insha, SyedZahid Raza, Rose-Marie Fernandez, RamizAllawala, Ron Kaufman, and Arshi Aziz-Ahmed.

Ladies & Gentlemen!Ali Asghar Kayaniat your service!

As Area BusinessHead for

Gujranwalacelebrating

Independence Day

With Area Heads at theExcutive DevelopmentCenter, JaffarBrothers, Karachi in1992

With Prof. A.G. Saeed aftera training session in

Islamabad

Core Team, the Family



Cruising the corridors of power

comes easily to Mohsin

Raffique, our man in Islamabad.

His route is in G-5 in the Red

Zone, and he has experienced

first hand over many weeks the

state of red alert when the

Constitution Avenue was

hosting a cross-section of

Pakistan intent upon paradigm

change. What it meant for

Mohsin was a mile long quick

march on a daily basis. Due to

the security arrangements

around the Cabinet Secretariat

motorcycles were prohibited

from entering, as per orders of

the Pakistan Army that was in-

charge of the area’s security.

Only cars with the green number

plates were allowed in. So

Mohsin would park and lock his

bike at the Federal Board of

Revenue’s Headquarters where

a space had been provided, sling

his TCS bag over his shoulder,

and hit the road on foot.

The ‘dharnas’ didn’t affect his

work as such, he says, but

his earnings declined because

the people working in the

affected areas weren’t turning

up for work, and the quantum of

outbound mail had declined. Mohsin

has delivered packets to both Tahir-

ul-Qadri and Imran Khan at their

containers.

On Mondays Mohsin takes an early

start to his day because he doesn’t

have to wait for the mail to arrive from

Karachi since Sunday’s shipments are

already there awaiting his attention.

He leaves home at 5.45am and checks

into office by 6am. On other week days

he gets to work by 6.30am, and it takes

30 to 35 minutes for him to sort out

the documents.

The TCS Islamabad Office is located

in Sector G-8, and Mohsin’s route takes

him first to his main delivery point, the

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Then

come the Pakistan Engineering Council

(PEC) and the National Database and

Registration Authority (NADRA) HQ,

after which Mohsin enters what is

possibly the broadest boulevard in

Pakistan, the Constitution Avenue,

home to the Pakistan Council of

Scientific and Industrial Research

(PSCIR), Science Foundation, Election

Commission, COMSAT, Academy of

Science, Federal Shariat Court, Auditor

General of Pakistan, Federal

Ombudsman, National Assembly,

Senate, Aiwan-e-Saddar, Cabinet

Division, Ministry of Information and

Broadcasting, Establishment Division,

National Security Council, Inter-

Provincial Coordination Council (IPCC),

and the Federal Cabinet.

For someone who rubs shoulders with

the highest in the land on a daily basis,

Mohsin has a pleasantly down-to-Earth

humility. It takes him two and a half

hours to service the route, getting free

by 11am. He returns to office and

updates the record sheet, has lunch,

relaxes for a bit, and leaves on the

pickup rounds by 2.30pm. Pakistan

Frontline StaffMohsin Raffique Code # 40422, Islamabad

I face noproblems entering andleaving this very highsecurity area. The TCSbrand is highlyrespected and trustedand I am in uniformwith properidentification displayed,so no problems. Overthe years I havedeveloped goodrelations with all theagencies and theirpersonnel, includingthe bomb disposalsquad.

Those who serve you


Engineering Council, a key account

with a lot of outbound mail, is his first

port of call. Mohsin retraces his

footsteps of the morning and gets to

NADRA by 5pm. The Chairman

NADRA keeps sitting until 6.30pm so

he has to stay back until then, reporting

back to TCS Operations by 7pm.

Mohsin’s been doing this route for the

last 6 years. Sajjad Alam used to

operate this route earlier, he says, and

when he became BDM Mohsin took

over the route. “I face no problems

entering and leaving this very high

security area. The TCS brand is highly

respected and trusted and I am in

uniform with proper identification

displayed, so no problems. Over the

years I have developed good relations

with all the agencies and their

personnel, including the bomb disposal

squad.”

Mohsin joined TCS in 2001, but spent

two years working for MMS. He shifted

to General in 2003, and is presently

31 years of age. TCS was his first job,

and he has completed his Intermediate

education, obtaining his FSc with

Mathematics, Statistics and

Economics. The desire to pursue

money made him discontinue his

education, but now better sense has

prevailed and he realizes the value of

education, and has taken the decision

to enroll soon in the Allama Iqbal

University. Also, it has dawned upon

him that as a graduate his promotion

prospects within TCS will improve.

Mohsin Raffique is married with two

sons, Mohammed Hussain (5 years)

and Mohammed Hasan (3.5 years),

and has one elder brother. He is fond

of singing, and has sung at TCS

functions and also in the presence of

well known artists. Mohsin played

cricket in college, and still does

sometimes. He is fond of playing

snooker, and indulges in it during

holidays. His wife is an educated

housewife, and Mutton Karhai, the way

his wife cooks it, is his favorite food.

Shahabnama counts as his favorite

book, with Shan and Shahrukh

Khan as his favorite actors,

even though his preference

is for English horror movies.

TCS has been a great

experience, and after the

death of his parents TCS

has been both his

mother and father,

says Mohsin. “I got

married from my

TCS earnings

and, having

started from

scratch, now

consider

myself well

set. Mr. Tauqir

Alam (Area

Business Head)

has been a great

source of

inspiration as well,

and the Operations

Controller Abbas

Ali treats me like a younger brother.”

Ladies and Gentlemen

Mohsin Raffique at yourservice!

31www.tcs.com.pk

Dubai - UAETCS Express Worldwide LLC

#5, Abdullah Rashid Muhammad Saif Building,Rashidya, Umm Ramool, P.O. Box 29575, Dubai, UAE

Tel: +(971) 4 285 8556, Fax: +(971) 4 285 8560www.tcsuae.com

Abu Dhabi - UAETCS Express Worldwide LLC

Fardous Building, Al Salam StreetP.O. Box 54525, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Tel: +(971) 2 677 8600, Fax: +(971) 2 6779800www.tcsuae.com

Sharjah - UAETCS Express Worldwide LLC

Al Arooba Shop # 24 & 25, Al Arooba Street,Behind al Ansari Exchange, Rolla Square, Sharjah

Tel: +(971) 6 563 0563, Fax: +(971) 6 563 0562www.tcsuae.com

London - UKTCS Express Worldwide (UK) Limited

1000 Great West Road, Brentford,Middlesex TW8-9HH, London, UK

Tel: +(44) 208 263 5715, Fax: +(44) 208 263 5716www.tcsexpress.co.uk

Karachi - PakistanTCS (Private) Limited

TCS Headquarters101-104, Civil Aviation Club Road,

Karachi - 75202, Pakistan.Tel: +(92) 21 111 123 456, Fax: +(92) 21 924 2830

www.tcs.com.pk

“We have to build up the character of our future

generations which means highest sense of honour,

integrity, selfless service to the nation, and sense of

responsibility, and we have to see that they are fully

qualified and equipped to play their part in the various

branches of economic life in a manner which will do

honour to Pakistan”

(Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s Message to All Pakistan

Educational Conference, Karachi, 27th November 1947)

Quote

Leadership Tip‘Good leaders develop ideas and people. Great leaders

develop other leaders’(Anon)

The proof of the pudding lies in its eating, they say. At TCS the‘pudding’ is conjured up by ‘chefs’ extraordinaire who travel theextra mile on a routine basis to get exactly right the formulationthat will WOW our valued customers.

With TCS CONNECT we keep our valued customers in the loopwith the world of TCS. The world of TCS is witnessing a revampof epic proportions under its new stewardship that is committedto breaking new ground in the service of its most valued customers.

We have a set of beliefs at TCS that we strive to abide by in ourpursuit of excellence in the service of our valued customers. Webelieve in making life simple, convenient and easy for our peopleand customers; We believe in embedding ethics and transparencyin everything we do; We believe in giving it all we got and beingfearless in the process; We believe in being humble and respectful;

We believe in trusting and empowering our people; We believein creating happiness for ourselves and for others; We believethat what we do is more important than who we are; We believein enabling our people to align their personal goals with theircareer aspirations; We believe in building a team of passionatepeople; and, above all, we believe in delivering beyond ourcustomers’ expectations.

That’s a whole lot to believe in, and living our core values, andwalking our talk, needs men and women made of sterner stuff,something we at TCS pride ourselves for. We try and get it rightthe first time, every time, and consider that the par for the course.It may not happen on occasion, we admit, but we strive to conquerand overcome any performance gaps that might occur.

Pakistan is determined to forge ahead, the turbulence in itsoperating environment notwithstanding. For TCS there can beno greater honor than to be an integral part of Pakistan’s engineof growth. We are primed and positioned to operate out-of-the-box, and innovate our way out of difficult situations in the serviceof our most valued customers.

Thank you for giving TCS your vote of confidence and we hopethat you will continue to do so into the future.

We Believe in You

changing paradigms - welcome to tcs express ... edition, 2015 / volume 14 / issue 1 the 60 minutes...

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