Sohrab () was a Pakistani

bicycle A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered transport, human-powered or motorized bicycle, motor-assisted, bicycle pedal, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two bicycle wheel, wheels attached to a ...

manufacturer based in

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

.Bicycle pedals down memory lane in Pakistan
The Nation (newspaper), Published 20 April 2011, Retrieved 18 December 2018

History

Sohrab began in 1952 with a core of traders in Lahore, following a foreign exchange crisis which severely restricted imports in Pakistan. The traders saw an opportunity to domestically produce and sell bicycles, and consequently founded Sohrab on 8 September 1953 under ''Section 9'' of the ''Co-operative Societies Act II of 1912''. It initially had 22 members and produced 5 bicycles a day.

Structure

Sohrab was setup keeping its workers in mind. All controlling powers of the company laid with the general body, who were elected into power every 3 years. Since its inception, elections were held on a regular basis. Sohrab provided subsidized workers canteen and company hospital. It also paid for five of its workers to attend the

Hajj Hajj (; ; also spelled Hadj, Haj or Haji) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for capable Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetim ...

pilgrimage in Mecca each year.

Products

Sohrab initially manufactured a single-speed roadster bicycle. This had a lugged steel frame and rod-brakes. More modern MTB and BMX style bicycles were added to the range in the 1990s. Sohrab also diversified into producing cargo-tricycles, gymnasium equipment, push-chairs and wheelchairs. In 1994, Sohrab entered the motorcycle market with the JS70. A larger version of this was later used as the basis for an

auto-rickshaw An auto rickshaw is a motorized version of the pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Most have three wheels and do not tilt. They are known by many other terms in various countries, including three-wheeler, Adaidaita Sahu, Keke-napep, Maruwa, auto, ...

. Sohrab's primary market was in mainly remote and rural population areas of Pakistan. It also exported cycles to

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

and

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

and wheelchairs to

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

through a French

rotary club Rotary International is one of the largest Service club, service organizations in the world. The self-declared mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, go ...

References

External links

Official Sohrab Cycles website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sohrab Cycles Cycle manufacturers Cycling in Pakistan Manufacturing companies of Pakistan Motorcycle manufacturers of Pakistan Manufacturing companies based in Lahore Cooperatives in Pakistan Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1952 Pakistani brands Pakistani companies established in 1952 Privately held companies of Pakistan