Profile
Legal Structure
Hoora
Pharma (Private) Limited is a private limited company incorporated in Pakistan
on September 6, 2010 under the Companies Act, 2017. The registered office of
the Company is situated at WH-01-20-A7-A8, Korangi Creek Industrial Park,
Karachi in the province of Sindh.
Background
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. is a Pakistan-based healthcare company with a strong
footprint in the medical devices and diagnostics segment. Originating as a
small-scale partnership firm in 1985, the Company has steadily evolved into a reputable
name in diagnostic and imaging services. It plays a critical intermediary role
by bridging international medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers
in Pakistan, with a mission to facilitate accessible and high-quality
diagnostic services across major urban centers.
Operations
The Company’s operations are centered on sourcing and supplying advanced diagnostic
equipment and medical devices from global technology leaders. Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd.
represents prominent industry players such as Siemens Healthineers,
Shimadzu, GE Healthcare, and Terumo, ensuring a wide portfolio that spans Immunoassay, Chemistry,
Ultrasound, Hematology, Imaging, Wound Closure, POCT, and other diagnostic
domains. To support its specialized operations, the company maintains a robust
distribution infrastructure, including temperature-controlled warehousing,
which ensures the quality and integrity of sensitive products throughout the
supply chain.
Ownership
Ownership Structure
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. is a family-owned business, with 100% of the equity held by the
sponsoring family. Mr. Abdul Rasheed Chohan, the founder, holds a majority 55%
stake, while his son, Mr. Zulqurnain Rasheed Chohan, holds the remaining 45%.
This concentrated shareholding enables quick decision-making and reflects
long-term commitment by the sponsors.
Stability
The
shareholding structure remains stable, with no anticipated changes in ownership
in the near term. However, the absence of a documented succession plan and
formal corporate governance framework may pose long-term continuity risks. A
move toward structured corporatization and well documented succession planning
would further enhance the company's governance and ownership stability.
Business Acumen
The sponsoring family brings deep sector knowledge and decades of
experience to the Company. Mr. Abdul Rasheed Chohan has over 20 years of
experience in the healthcare industry, including a notable tenure as Executive
Director at Hilton Pharma. He has also established Pinnacle Biotech (Pvt.)
Ltd., another pharma-focused business under the Hoora Group umbrella. This
track record demonstrates strategic foresight, industry credibility, and a
strong foundation in healthcare operations and leadership.
Financial Strength
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. is part of the diversified Hoora Group of Companies, which
also includes Pinnacle Biotech (Pvt.) Ltd., Hoora Pharma (AOP) and Pinnacle Builders and
Developers. The Group's presence spans across pharmaceuticals,
and real estate development, reflecting a broad-based business profile. The
sponsors of the Group possess the financial depth and operational experience
necessary to support the businesses under their umbrella. The diversified
nature of the Group’s operations enhances its resilience and provides a stable
platform to extend financial support to Hoora Pharma when required.
Governance
Board Structure
The board
of Hoora Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. is composed of three primary sponsors, including
Mr. Abdul Rasheed Chohan (CEO), Mr. Zulqarnain Rasheed Chohan (Director), and
Mr. Saad Rasheed Chohan (Director). The board structure reflects a family-owned leadership model with
clear delegation of operational oversight to functional managers and heads of
departments. There remains scope to further strengthen board independence
through the inclusion of non-executive or independent directors to ensure objective
oversight and strategic input.
Members’ Profile
The
sponsors bring substantial industry knowledge and international exposure. Mr.
Abdul Rasheed Chohan, CEO of Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd., has extensive experience including
an 18-year tenure as Executive Director at Hilton Pharma and international
training across Europe, the U.S., and Asia in advanced healthcare technologies.
His sons, Mr. Zulqarnain Rasheed Chohan and Mr. Saad Rasheed Chohan, serve as
Directors and have represented the Company at numerous international
pharmaceutical and diagnostic forums. Together, they aim to position Hoora Group among the top diagnostic and pharmaceutical firms in the region,
underpinned by a strong growth vision.
Board Effectiveness
Hoora Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. has initiated the formation of formal board committees, which are currently in the process of being institutionalized. The Company has demonstrated intent to strengthen its governance framework by establishing designated committees to assist the Board in strategic oversight. PACRA encourages continued progress in this direction, alongside maintaining documented board meetings, structured minutes, and attendance tracking, to further enhance transparency, accountability, and long-term governance effectiveness.
Financial Transparency
The Company’s external audit is conducted by A.D. Akhawala & Co., Chartered Accountants. The auditor expressed an unqualified opinion on the financial statements for FY24. While the firm holds a Quality Control Review (QCR) rating from ICAP, it is not listed on the State Bank of Pakistan’s panel of approved auditors, which may somewhat limit regulatory recognition from a credit risk standpoint. Internally, the finance function is led by a Chief Financial Officer, supported by a Senior Finance Manager. Strategic and financial oversight is provided by Director Mr. Zulqurnain Rasheed Chohan. While internal controls are in place, governance practices could be further strengthened through the formalization of internal audit mechanisms and enhanced board-level oversight.
Management
Organizational Structure
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. has a well-documented and functionally segregated
organizational structure. Departments span key areas including (i) Supply
Chain, (ii) Sales & Marketing, (iii) Import Management, (iv) Finance, (v)
HR, (vi) Operations, and (vii) Business Units with dedicated managers or heads.
The structure supports accountability and specialization, with senior-level
appointments such as a Managing Director, General Manager, Vice President, and
Business Unit Heads ensuring streamlined operations.
Management Team
The Company is led by Mr. Abdul Rasheed Chohan,
who serves as CEO and brings decades of experience in the healthcare and
diagnostic sector. His strategic direction is complemented by a capable and
experienced second line of management. Key leadership positions include Mr.
Faisal Akbar (General Manager), Dr. Zaffar Hashmi (Managing Director), and Mr.
Nizam Zaheer (Vice President), along with heads of key functions such as HR,
finance, supply chain, and imports. The finance function is overseen by Mr. Jibran
Ahmed, Chief Financial Officer. The management team benefits from international
exposure and training, which has contributed to the adoption of global best
practices across operations. This depth and breadth of experience within the
leadership team enhances the company’s operational efficiency and positions it
well for sustainable growth.
Effectiveness
Roles and responsibilities within the management
structure are clearly defined, ensuring efficient execution of business
functions. The Company has advance internal controls across procurement,
inventory, and logistics, backed by ERP automation. However, the absence of
formal internal committees (e.g., OPEX, CAPEX, strategy) presents an opportunity for
improvement in strategic coordination and risk governance.
MIS
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. has deployed Oracle NetSuite, a top-tier cloud-based
ERP platform, which integrates core functions such as finance (R2R),
procurement (P2P), order management (O2C), manufacturing, supply chain, HR, and
analytics. This system enables real-time data visibility, efficient workflow
automation, and informed decision-making through live dashboards and
performance KPIs accessible by senior management.
Control Environment
The control environment is supported by the ERP-driven standardization of
key processes across procurement, inventory, and finance. While a formal
internal audit department is not separately constituted, compliance and
monitoring responsibilities are embedded within finance and managerial
functions. The Company can further benefit from establishing a dedicated
internal audit and compliance review mechanism that reports to top management
or a future audit committee.
Business Risk
Industry Dynamics
According to international monitoring firm IQVIA, Pakistan’s
pharmaceutical sector recorded a 21.79% growth in calendar year 2024 compared
to the previous year, reaching a market value of Rs. 962.5 billion. This growth
has largely been driven by a deregulatory policy introduced earlier in the
year, which allowed pharmaceutical companies to adjust prices for non-essential
medicines in response to rising production costs. The revenue surge was
primarily the result of price adjustments, rather than a significant increase
in unit sales. The industry remains heavily dependent on imported active
pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), making it vulnerable to supply chain
disruptions and foreign exchange volatility, particularly due to the
depreciation of the Pakistani Rupee (PKR). This has constrained the industry's
ability to pass on costs, especially
in the essential medicines segment, where pricing remains regulated. Over the
past year, the sector sold 3.7 billion units, reflecting a modest volume growth
of 2.27%, while revenue growth was largely price-driven.
Relative Position
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. has secured authorised and non-exclusive partnerships
with globally renowned manufacturers in the healthcare and diagnostic sectors,
including Siemens Healthineers and Shimadzu. These strategic alliances allow
the Company to offer cutting-edge technologies across segments such as In Vitro
Diagnostics, Medical Imaging, Ultrasound, and Blood Technology. As a result,
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. has positioned itself in the top quartile of the domestic
healthcare distribution industry, supported by a specialized product portfolio
and established institutional clientele.
Revenues
Currently, the gradual transition of business from Hoora Pharma (AOP) to Hoora Pharma (Pvt.) Limited is underway and expected to be completed by FY26. During FY24, the revenue of the Company was recorded at ~PKR 3.9bln (FY23: ~PKR 2.1bln). Key institutional customers include Pir
Syed Abdul Qadir Shah Jeelani Institute of Medical Sciences, Dow University of
Health Sciences, and Mayo Hospital—highlighting the company’s strong presence
in the public healthcare procurement space.
Margins
The Company sustained adequate profitability in FY24 with a gross margin
of 23.4% (FY23: 25.2%), supported by product pricing strategies and
improved cost control. The net profit margin rose to 10.2%,
compared to 6.9% in FY23, with net profit reaching PKR 405 million
(FY23: PKR 144 million). This margin improvement reflects operational
scalability and growing market penetration in high-margin segments.
Sustainability
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. has business partnerships with world’s top
tier players in Diagnostic segment including Siemens Healthineers, Shimadzu,
etc. Recently, the Company has been qualified as an authorized distributor of Johnson & Johnson’s wound closure product portfolio and projects an additional sizeable revenue stream. The Company do have clear visionary prospects to be the leading supplier
of medical diagnostics & healthcare products in the country as top
solution provider. Restructuring the organization to meet MNC standards. The
upper management regularly overseas the company’s financial budgeting and
projections.
Financial Risk
Working capital
Hoora
Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. operates with a stretched working capital cycle, largely due
to its credit-based sales model and the need to maintain buffer inventory of
sensitive diagnostic equipment. The net working capital cycle remained
elevated at 111 days in FY24 (unchanged from FY23). Nonetheless, the
company’s current ratio improved to 1.5x (FY23: 1.2x), indicating better
short-term liquidity management.
Coverages
The Company generated Free Cash Flow from
Operations (FCFO) of PKR 491 million in FY24 (FY23: PKR 199 million),
reflecting enhanced operating performance. However, rising interest rates led
to an increase in finance costs to PKR 118 million (FY23: PKR 38
million), which impacted coverage metrics. The interest coverage ratio
declined to 4.5x (FY23: 7.0x), and the debt payback ratio stood at 2.7x
(FY23: 3.1x), indicating a moderate reduction in debt-servicing capacity
despite improved cash flows.
Capitalization
As of FY24, the Company’s total borrowings slightly decreased to PKR
445 million (FY23: PKR 536 million), with short-term borrowings
making up 100% of the total debt mix. With this decline, the leverage
ratio stands at 29.8%% (FY23: 45.4%). This indicates reliance on debt financing
to support business growth, which may require optimization as the company
scales further.
|