Continuing legacy: Not just a businessman but also a revolutionary

Saeed Qureshi inculcated love for book reading in capital.

ISLAMABAD: Some people walk the path of this earth to make it a better place. They spend their lives contributing to surroundings in a way that brings about a revolution. They spread so much positivity around that their legacy continues even after they are gone. One such person was Saeed Qureshi, who has played a great role in the lives Islamabad’s young and old without even meeting them.

Owner of Saeed Book Bank, Qureshi passed away last week at the age of 77. He was ill since a while and under treatment at Shifa International Hospital. He left behind two sons, three daughters and several grandchildren.

“He was a man of strong beliefs and morals and displayed immense honesty. His business ethics and passion for work were an example for us,” his son Akbar Saeed told The Express Tribune.

Born and bred in Sindh, Qureshi did his matric from Hyderabad and eventually came to Islamabad and started working at a bookstore. He worked there for a few years until he was sent to Peshawar to take care of another book shop facing decline in sales.

After a few years of gaining experience from the local market, Qureshi opened the first branch of Saeed Book Bank in Peshawar in 1964.

It was his passion and hard work that made the store so successful that he eventually opened the Islamabad branch in Sector F-7, which the store management claims is the largest bookstore in Asia.

“Our father was really fond of reading books. Even though he had an entire bookstore and could pick and read just about any book, he liked owning his own collection. He had a separate library in his office and another at home,” said Saeed.

When asked if he was able to instill the love of books in his children, he mentioned that he would always encourage his children to read. “He would bring great books home, read them to us and encourage us to read but unfortunately, none of us are passionate book readers like him,” his son said.

Speaking about lessons learnt, Saeed mentioned that his father was a very fine businessman. “His work ethic and the way he dealt with people were exemplary. Everything my brother and I know has been passed on from him,” he said.

The owner would spend most of his time at the stores and when at home he would be reading till late at night. Every now and then, he would travel for work. “For a businessman of that time, it was rather inspiring of him to find out about book fairs across the world and attend them. He would take my brother Ahmad and me to London, Germany and India to attend global book fairs often. These trips have left fond memories today,” he shared.

Qureshi was not just a businessman but also a revolutionary as his ideology inculcated a love for book reading in Islamabad. His store attracted people of all ages to come and find the book they want.

Islamabad will never be able to forget the service he has done to the city, and his presence will always be felt as one walks into the doors of Saeed Book Bank to find the unique edition of a book that might not be available elsewhere.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th,  2015.