Mian Muhammad Sharif (Punjabi, Urdu: محمد شریف) was an Indian-born Pakistani industrialist and father of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif.
Early life
Sharif was born Mian Muhammad Sharif in Amritsar, India. His family to traced to Shopian in the Kashmir valley. In 1947, after Pakistan's establishment, Sharif immigrated to Pakistan from Amritsar, India, settling in Lahore.
At Amritsar the entire extended family was somehow involved in the profession of wrestling. Mian Muhammad Sharif who had been an outcast in his family because of his physical attributes, ventured into business and started a small junkyard shop. Soon his one junkyard shop transformed into a major supplier of junk steel from which he started a small steel refinery. Under General Zia ul Haq his business increased many folds to an annual profit of US$ 30 million. However, real fortunes came under the premiership of his son and in the 90s his business saw an unprecedented 1500% increase from US$ 30 million to US$ 400 million annual profits.
Politics
Muhammad Sharif was involved in politics through his sons, Nawaz Sharif who was Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Shahbaz Sharif, who was Chief Minister of Punjab province of Pakistan. He insisted on many policies that were followed by his sons. The Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was a good friend of Muhammad Sharif and was appointed as the President of Pakistan by Nawaz Sharif on recommendation of his father.
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