Rating History
Dissemination Date Long-Term Rating Short-Term Rating Outlook Action Rating Watch
17-Apr-26 BBB- A3 Stable Maintain -
18-Apr-25 BBB- A3 Stable Upgrade -
20-Apr-24 BB+ A3 Stable Maintain -
20-Apr-23 BB+ A3 Stable Maintain -
22-Apr-22 BB+ A3 Stable Initial -
About the Entity

New Horizon Computer (‘the Business’) is an Association of Persons (AoP), registered in 2003. The Business is owned by Mr. Hanif Akbar Ali (approximately 51%) and Mr. Rahim Iqbal (approximately 49%), with Mr. Rahim Iqbal serving as Chief Executive Officer. The near-equal ownership structure concentrates governance and decision-making authority within a two-partner framework, with no institutional oversight. The primary business activity is the provision of IT-based solutions to corporate and institutional clients across Pakistan

Rating Rationale

New Horizon Computer (‘the Business’) is an established IT solutions provider in Pakistan, with operations spanning over two decades since its founding in 1999. From its origins as a single-office operation in Karachi, the Business has scaled to a workforce of over 300 professionals, with a presence across Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and other major cities. The Business offers a comprehensive suite of IT products and services, encompassing virtualization solutions (VMware, Microsoft, Citrix), enterprise and archiving systems, converged networks, communication equipment, power and backup services, and technology licensing. The Business’s client base is diversified across high-value verticals, including financial institutions, oil & gas companies, educational institutions, government entities, and NPOs — a composition that provides a degree of revenue stability and reduces dependence on any single sector.
Pakistan’s IT sector continues to demonstrate strong structural momentum, supported by a young and increasingly digitally engaged population, rising internet penetration, and a maturing technology services ecosystem. IT exports reached USD 3.8 billion in FY25, representing approximately 18% growth year-on-year from USD 3.2 billion in FY24 — a trajectory that reflects growing international demand for Pakistani IT services. Despite robust industry tailwinds, the Business maintained a cautious stance, leading to ~8.6% year-over-year contraction in revenues during FY25, reflecting a moderation in topline volumes. Notwithstanding this revenue decline, the Business demonstrated a meaningful improvement in profitability metrics. Gross profit margins expanded by ~2.6%, attributable to a more favorable revenue mix and improved cost management, which in turn supported a corresponding improvement in operating profit margins. Net margins strengthened to approximately 14.2%, driven primarily by a material reduction in finance costs — driven by the easing in policy rates. The overall financial risk profile of the Business is assessed as moderate. Coverage metrics are considered adequate and provide a degree of support to the rating. Working capital requirements continue to be financed primarily through short-term borrowings, reflecting the nature of the Business’s operating cycle. The capital structure remains elevated in terms of leverage, and a sustained deleveraging trajectory — supported by continued profitability improvements and disciplined debt management — would be a positive development

Key Rating Drivers

The ratings are dependent on the management's ability to diversify the revenue stream by global outreach along with stabilizing margins and profitability. However, improving the financial profile of the Business remains crucial. Meanwhile, strengthening governance practices will have a positive impact on the ratings. Any deterioration in debt coverages leading to higher financial risk or substantial losses will have a negative impact on ratings.

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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(PKR mln)


Jun-25
12M
Jun-24
12M
Jun-23
12M
Audited Audited Audited
A. BALANCE SHEET
1. Non-Current Assets 157 234 197
2. Investments 145 0 0
3. Related Party Exposure 599 175 212
4. Current Assets 1,104 2,224 2,620
a. Inventories 59 276 285
b. Trade Receivables 667 1,109 1,940
5. Total Assets 2,005 2,633 3,030
6. Current Liabilities 465 580 756
a. Trade Payables 360 382 532
7. Borrowings 669 1,043 1,364
8. Related Party Exposure 0 0 0
9. Non-Current Liabilities 16 0 0
10. Net Assets 855 1,010 910
11. Shareholders' Equity 855 1,010 910
B. INCOME STATEMENT
1. Sales 3,037 3,322 2,808
a. Cost of Good Sold (1,905) (2,168) (1,883)
2. Gross Profit 1,133 1,154 925
a. Operating Expenses (393) (494) (498)
3. Operating Profit 739 660 427
a. Non Operating Income or (Expense) 108 187 187
4. Profit or (Loss) before Interest and Tax 848 847 614
a. Total Finance Cost (154) (274) (247)
b. Taxation (261) (170) 0
6. Net Income Or (Loss) 433 403 368
C. CASH FLOW STATEMENT
a. Free Cash Flows from Operations (FCFO) 691 688 646
b. Net Cash from Operating Activities before Working Capital Changes 508 415 399
c. Changes in Working Capital 115 792 (534)
1. Net Cash provided by Operating Activities 623 1,206 (135)
2. Net Cash (Used in) or Available From Investing Activities (59) (49) 299
3. Net Cash (Used in) or Available From Financing Activities (1,045) (624) (247)
4. Net Cash generated or (Used) during the period (481) 533 (84)
D. RATIO ANALYSIS
1. Performance
a. Sales Growth (for the period) -8.6% 18.3% 21.3%
b. Gross Profit Margin 37.3% 34.7% 32.9%
c. Net Profit Margin 14.2% 12.1% 13.1%
d. Cash Conversion Efficiency (FCFO adjusted for Working Capital/Sales) 26.6% 44.6% 4.0%
e. Return on Equity [ Net Profit Margin * Asset Turnover * (Total Assets/Shareholders' Equity )] 46.4% 42.0% 41.2%
2. Working Capital Management
a. Gross Working Capital (Average Days) 127 198 220
b. Net Working Capital (Average Days) 82 148 169
c. Current Ratio (Current Assets / Current Liabilities) 2.4 3.8 3.5
3. Coverages
a. EBITDA / Finance Cost 12.5 3.1 2.6
b. FCFO / Finance Cost+CMLTB+Excess STB 7.5 2.3 2.4
c. Debt Payback (Total Borrowings+Excess STB) / (FCFO-Finance Cost) 0.1 0.1 0.1
4. Capital Structure
a. Total Borrowings / (Total Borrowings+Shareholders' Equity) 43.9% 50.8% 60.0%
b. Interest or Markup Payable (Days) 139.5 84.8 111.4
c. Entity Average Borrowing Rate 8.0% 22.7% 18.7%

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