When Coastline Transport director Mohammed Imtiaz Gul bought his first bus in 2005, he didn’t realise he would be the biggest bus operator in Sigatoka.
Not bad for a man who started his first job as a wash boy for M R Khan Buses. He now owns 35 buses and he delivered Sigatoka’s first luxury air-conditioned coach on August 22.
The objective was to provide the best possible mode of transport to the people of Sigatoka.
The bus was made here by P A Lal Coachwork Limited who have built the coach to suit Mr Gul’s requirements.
Mr Gul was born in Sigatoka and grew up in Keyasi, Durumoli. Since he understood and experienced the hardship of growing up in a poor family it has been his ultimate goal to give back to the community in any way he can.
Not only does he run a bus company, he also owns a barber shop in Nasinu, which he opened in 2000; he owns a butcher in Nasinu as well.
They have also registered a second-hand car sales business and a rental business that will hit the market in the next two months.
But this is not the end of the road for Mr Gul. He has plans for a shopping mall, a service station and venture into the garment industry.
Mr Gul said: “I wish to thank Merchant Bank, HFC, Credit Corp, FDB for financing his business and having faith in him. The Government, LTA, P A Lal Coachwork Limited and the people of Sigatoka.
“I also want to thank Faiaz Ali of National Hire, Janesh Kumar who is a bank officer at Credit Corp, and lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo.
“But my achievements today could not have been made possible without the blessings from my parents and support from my family.”
The other company director is brother Mohammed Ilyaz Gul.
REASONS WHY MR GULL DIVERSIFYING BUSINESS:
- To give something back to the community where he was born and raised
- To help reduce poverty in Sigatoka so that the people of Sigatoka can have a better living
- To create job opportunities for the people of Sigatoka
- Was born in a poor family and understands the difficult times one goes through so he doesn’t want others to go through the same
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