Salim Ghauri (@salimghauri) is the founder of NetSol, a company that provides IT related solutions for companies around the world. The company strives to provide its customers with high-quality, customizable solutions that are innovative, and it has several years of experience and know-how to back this up. These features also form the core values of the company.
Born in Bhawalpur and proud to be Pakistani, Salim Ghauri is one of the leading IT businessmen and entrepreneurs in the industry. One of his favorite sayings he revealed during an interview is: “When things are tough hold your head high…When things are good keep your head down. Allah does not like arrogance. It’s a pleasure to give back to people what was given to me by Allah as a gift.” This has guided his work and his work ethic, and is apparent in the achievements he has to date.
NetSol
NetSol has offices in the United States, Pakistan, the UK, China, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. As their website states: “With more than 150 satisfied clients in over 30 countries and 250 implementations globally, we understand the value of customizability and strive to continually deliver unprecedented solutions which cater directly to your business needs.”
The company is listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) and NASDAQ as well. Their work “is at the development forefront of leasing software solutions, embracing new technologies and building on its world class suite of applications – NetSol Financial Suite.” NetSol Financial Suite is software that companies can use to organize their credit portfolios, and is comprehensive enough to cover most financial system requirements.
Ghauri’s Vision
In 1995, Salim Gauri envisioned an IT company in Pakistan that would be able to compete on a global scale. This was a difficult process, especially given how underdeveloped Pakistan’s IT sector was during that period. Another problem was how limited the scope was for such an enterprise at the time, though the potential was always present. He describes in his profile: “The early months required a lot of struggle as there was not much awareness about IT in Pakistan, due to which there were very few opportunities.”
In an interview he explained how the process came about: “NetSol faced difficulties like any other new founded company. Pakistan is one of the most friendly country for establishing a new company. It is always a challenge for a new company to convince customers to give it their mission critical business. NetSol was very lucky to get its first break very early in its inception. With its first international client in its fifth month of founding is nothing but pure luck.”
The global reach that Ghauri was aiming for was what enabled the company to thrive at the time. However, in 2000, the company faced a loss of value and Ghauri in the same interview described this period: “2000 were the early years of NetSol. Only four years in making. In 2001 markets went down for technology sectors companies. NetSol also lost its valuation.”
As further described in his profile, because of Ghauri’s “continued efforts, ability to overcome barriers, and perseverance, NetSol became the first and only Pakistani origin company, software or otherwise, to get listed on NASDAQ, the first and the only company in Pakistan to achieve CMMI Level 5 certification, and the biggest Pakistani IT company in terms of revenues and infrastructure.”
Other Achievements
Although founding NetSol and being its CEO is one of Salim Ghauri’s biggest achievements, he also has several other interests. According to Businessweek, “He is credited with setting up the first IT-based training institute and a software house in Damam, Saudi Arabia.”
Aside from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, he also worked in Australia, as a consultant with BHP Steel. He also received the “5th NCR IT Excellence Award for the year 2003-2004 for undertaking a pioneering effort in the development and nourishment of Pakistan’s IT industry.”
In addition to being CEO of NetSol, he is currently also President of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in Lahore. He is very supportive of entrepreneurial ventures and creating the ecosystem that such enterprises need in order to survive and compete in the local and global economy.
Given how trying it is for new startups to succeed and the difficulties he himself has faced his advice to people working hard to make it in this field is to never give up. In an interview he clarified: “I have faced many failures. In fact in my life I have seen more failures and few success. My today is because of those failures. Simple rule in my life Never never never giveup.”
