Profile
Legal Structure
New Horizon Computer (‘New Horizon’ or ‘the Firm’) is an Association of Persons, registered in 1999, and is engaged in providing IT based solutions.
Background
Established in 1999 by Mr. Hanif Akbar Ali and Mr. Farooq Abdullah, the Firm launched as an authorized dealer for leading hardware manufacturers, specializing in computing peripherals and power solutions. Following a strategic expansion into enterprise-level storage and server maintenance in 2013—serving a high-profile clientele of multinational corporations and commercial banks—the Firm pivoted its core focus in 2014 to specialize exclusively in the supply and maintenance of server infrastructure.
Operations
The Firm specializes in the import, assembly, and supply of enterprise-grade servers and related accessories. Headquartered in Clifton, Karachi, the organization maintains a robust nationwide presence with additional offices in Lahore and Islamabad. With a dedicated workforce of approximately 120 employees, the Firm is positioned to provide comprehensive infrastructure solutions across Pakistan's major commercial hubs.
Ownership
Ownership Structure
Ownership of the Firm is vested in Mr. Hanif Akbar Ali (51%) and Mr. Rahim Iqbal (49%). Historically, the entity was an equal partnership between Mr. Hanif Akbar Ali and Mr. Farooq Abdullah; however, following Mr. Abdullah's retirement in 2011, Mr. Iqbal joined the partnership, leading to the current distribution of equity.
Stability
The firm exhibits stable ownership, with sponsors who hold a reputable position within the technology sector
Business Acumen
Mr. Hanif Akbar Ali, Chairman and Co-Founder, brings over 23 years of specialized experience in technology-based solutions and systems integration. Since the Firm’s inception in 1999, he has been instrumental in driving its strategic direction. His core competencies lie in fostering high-level global partnerships and creating synergies with Tier-1 technology manufacturers, which have been pivotal in establishing the Firm’s market presence.
Financial Strength
The sponsors demonstrate satisfactory financial resilience, supported by a diversified investment portfolio. Beyond their core technology operations, the sponsors maintain significant exposure to the real estate sector, specifically through strategic investments in managed workspaces and coworking ventures. This diversification enhances the group’s overall asset base and provides additional liquidity cushions.
Governance
Board Structure
As a partnership entity, the Firm does not maintain a formal Board of Directors. Instead, the governance and oversight functions are directly exercised by the Sponsors. This structure ensures that strategic decision-making and operational supervision remain closely aligned with the partners’ long-term objectives and industry expertise.
Members’ Profile
With a career spanning more than two decades, Mr. Hanif Akbar Ali possesses deep domain expertise in the technology sector. As a co-founder, he has transitioned the Firm from its early stages to a sophisticated systems integrator. Mr. Ali leads the Firm’s business development efforts, specifically focusing on the cultivation of long-term alliances with international technology vendors and the optimization of the Firm's service ecosystem.
Board Effectiveness
The Firm’s governance framework is centralized, with oversight functions exclusively managed by the Sponsors. Given its legal status as a partnership concern, there are currently no formal board committees or independent directors in place. Furthermore, internal deliberations and strategic decisions are managed through informal communication channels rather than standardized minute-taking protocols.
Financial Transparency
The Firm’s external auditors, BDO Ebrahim and Co. Chartered Accountants, have expressed an unqualified opinion on the financial statements of the Firm for the year ended Jun-25. The auditors belong to the "A" category of auditors under the SBP panel.
Management
Organizational Structure
The Firm’s organizational structure reflects clear reporting lines and is split between Sales & Implementation, Finance & Accounts, HR & Admin, Support Services and Supply Chain. Each function is monitored by head of department, who reports to the CEO.
Management Team
Mr. Rahim Iqbal, CEO, possesses over 25 years of deep-domain expertise in systems integration and technology solutions. Since joining the Firm in 2011, he has been instrumental in scaling operations and diversifying the Firm’s corporate clientele. His leadership has been a key driver in penetrating high-value sectors and strengthening the Firm's market position. The management comprises experienced and qualified individuals. Mr. Qaiser Sarwar, the COO, has master’s in computer sciences and business administration, having above 22 years of overall experience. He has been associated with the Firm since 2010. Mr. Farooq Barkat is a Chartered Accountant and also holds a master’s in data Analytics. With 14 years of experience in finance, analytics, and corporate governance, he joined the Firm in 2022 and plays a pivotal role in financial strategy and regulatory compliance.
Effectiveness
While the Firm operates without a formalized committee structure, management effectiveness is maintained through frequent strategic reviews between the Sponsors and senior leadership. These sessions serve as the primary forum for refining policies, evaluating procedures, and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs). Operational oversight is further supported by a structured reporting cycle, where monthly project status updates are disseminated to Heads of Departments (HoDs) to ensure alignment and accountability.
MIS
The Firm has deployed Oracle Fusion as its MIS.
Control Environment
The Firm has a well-established internal audit function, led by Mr. Anique rupani, a CA finalist with significant experience in audit and risk management. The internal audit team conducts regular and structured reviews of the Firm’s operational and financial controls, ensuring compliance, identifying potential risks, and recommending improvements to enhance overall efficiency and governance.
Business Risk
Industry Dynamics
Pakistan's IT sector has emerged as the most resilient pillar of the country's export economy in FY2026. IT and IT-enabled services clocked $2.97 billion in the first eight months (July–February), up ~20% year-on-year from $2.48 billion, now constituting nearly 46% of total services exports. December 2025 was a landmark month — exports breached the $400 million threshold for the first time, hitting a record $437 million on the back of 26% annual growth. While February 2026 saw a second consecutive monthly dip to $365 million, the year-on-year reading still holds at +19%, suggesting the pullback is cyclical rather than structural. The growth architecture is broad-based: formal software houses, BPO operators, and a freelance workforce that ranks among the top five globally are all contributing, with client diversification extending across North America, Europe, and the Gulf. Policy tailwinds — most notably the SBP raising ESFCA retention limits from 35% to 50% — have accelerated formalization of export remittances. The government's FY26 target of $5 billion remains ambitious but directionally sound; consensus projections land closer to $4.4–4.6 billion. The longer arc is what commands attention: national strategy targets $10 billion in annual IT exports by 2029, positioning the sector as Pakistan's most credible path to a knowledge-based, services-led growth model.
Relative Position
New Horizon Computer is an emerging enterprise in the information technology sector, demonstrating consistent growth and innovation.
Revenues
The Firm’s revenue model is centered on high-value ICT infrastructure and enterprise solutions, encompassing cloud computing, data protection, network architecture, and ERP systems management. These specialized services are underpinned by strategic alliances with global OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), ensuring access to Tier-1 hardware and software ecosystems. The Cost of Sales (CoS) is predominantly driven by the procurement of servers and specialized components, which are primarily imported from the UAE, China, and Thailand to leverage vendor-specific efficiencies. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, the Firm reported a top-line of PKR 3.0bln, representing an 8.6% year-over-year (YoY) contraction from the previous year's revenue of PKR 3.3bln.
Margins
The Firm demonstrated a favorable trajectory in core profitability during FY25, characterized by expanding margins at both the gross and operating levels. The Gross Profit (GP) margin rose to 37.3% (FY24: 34.7%), supported by optimized procurement strategies and improved management of input costs. This operational momentum flowed through to the operating margin, which widened to 24.3% (FY24: 19.9%), reflecting disciplined administrative cost controls and inherent scale benefits. Despite the bottom-line being impacted by the interest rate environment, the Net Profit Margin (NPM) improved to 14.2% (FY24: 12.1%), as net income reached PKR 433mln (FY24: PKR 403mln), partially aided by a reduction in finance costs
Sustainability
The Firm has no major expansion activities planned, rather its main focus is to improve its clientele. For this purpose, the management plans to extend their short-term borrowing lines to supplement their working capital position.
Financial Risk
Working capital
The Firm’s working capital management demonstrated marked improvement during FY25, characterized by a significant contraction in the operating cycle. The inventory holding period was shortened to 20 days (FY24: 31 days), reflecting enhanced stock turnover and streamlined procurement. Simultaneously, the receivable collection period saw a substantial reduction to 107 days (FY24: 167 days), signaling strengthened credit controls and more efficient recovery protocols. Consequently, gross working capital days improved to 127 days (FY24: 198 days). Despite a slight decrease in the payable cycle to 45 days (FY24: 50 days), the net working capital cycle underwent a notable reduction to 82 days (FY24: 148 days). This optimized cycle underscores a diminished reliance on external short-term financing and an overall enhancement in operational liquidity.
Coverages
The Firm’s debt servicing capacity is primarily driven by its Free Cash Flow from Operations (FCFO) relative to its borrowing costs. In FY25, FCFO remained stable at PKR 691mln (FY24: PKR 688mln), while finance costs underwent a substantial reduction to PKR 154mln, down from PKR 274mln in the preceding year. This sharp decline in interest expense led to a significant strengthening of coverage ratios; the FCFO-to-finance cost coverage rose to 10.1x (FY24: 2.5x), while the debt coverage ratio improved to 7.5x (FY24: 2.3x). These trends indicate that the Firm’s debt-servicing profile has been considerably bolstered by a combination of steady cash generation and reduced financing burdens.
Capitalization
As of FY25, New Horizon maintains a moderately leveraged capital structure with a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.9%. The Firm successfully curtailed its total debt by approximately 36% YoY, closing the period with total borrowings of PKR 669mln. However, the maturity profile is characterized by a high concentration of current liabilities (~87.7%), primarily comprised of short-term financing. This heavy weighting toward short-term debt underscores the importance of maintaining robust interest coverage to mitigate potential fluctuations in the benchmark lending rates.
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