The foundation of the Atlas Group was laid in 1962 with the establishment of Shirazi Investments (Pvt) Limited with a capital of half a million rupees and three men doing business in trading shares and real estate.

Today Atlas is a diversified group dealing in engineering, financial services and trading. It consists of seven public limited companies out of which six are quoted on the Stock Exchanges in Pakistan, and four private limited companies. Atlas shareholders equity now stands over 25 billion rupees; assets have increased to over 60 billion rupees; personnel strength is over 7000 and annual sales have crossed 60 billion rupees. The Group paid taxes of Rs. 15 billion over 2% of the total government revenues.

The Group strategic direction is determined by the Group Executive Committee. Each company in the Group functions autonomously within the framework of the predetermined policy. Operating budgets and capital expenditures are approved by the Group Executive Committee and, where relevant, by the Boards of the respective companies.

The Group has enduring partnerships with some leading Japanese and European companies in response to the development and growth of national market, the global opening of international trade and free movement of capital.

In the engineering sector, Atlas has had a technical collaboration agreement with Honda Motor Company of Japan since 1962, currently the oldest amongst all non-Japanese companies. These relations were further consolidated by Honda Motor's equity participation in Atlas Honda Ltd. followed by higher equity participation in Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd. and Honda Atlas Power Product (Private) Ltd.

Atlas Battery Ltd., which has enjoyed technical assistance from Japan Storage Battery Co. since 1968, became a joint venture between Atlas and JSB by the purchase of equity by the latter in Atlas Battery Ltd.

Atlas Engineering (formerly Allwin Engineering Industries Ltd.) has access to the technical know-how and back-up of Honda Foundry Co. Ltd., Japan, the Federal Mogul, U.K., Meehanite, U.K., Shindengen, Japan and F.C.C. Co., Japan for its high quality precision engineering components for the automotive industry.

In the financial sector, Muslim Insurance Co. Ltd. has had a long association with leading international reinsurance companies including Swiss Re, Hannover Re, SOMPO, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire and Munich Re, among others.

Atlas Investment Bank Limited was formed in 1990 as a joint venture between Atlas Group and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd., Japan with the Asian Development Bank as the first subscriber. Atlas Lease Limited a joint venture between the Atlas Group, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd. and National Investment Trust, incorporated in 1989 was merged with Atlas Investment Bank Ltd. in 2001. The Group acquired a commercial bank i.e., Dawood Bank Limited in 2005 and changed its name to Atlas Bank Ltd. and merged the Atlas Investment Bank Limited in it.

Atlas Capital Markets Limited was incorporated in 2006 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Investment Bank Limited with transfer of all its brokerage and related businesses of Atlas Investment Bank Ltd. before merger.

In Trading, Shirazi Trading Company (Pvt) Limited represents international manufacturers of heavy equipment and machinery like MAN B&W Diesel of Germany/Denmark, Tideland Signals of USA/Singapore, Vallon of Germany and DKK Corporation of Japan. Shirazi Trading Company is also a franchise holder in Pakistan of leading brands such as Pitney Bowes, Canon, Hewlett Packard and Siemens.

The Group entered into another joint venture with TOTALFINA of France marketing petroleum products and established Total Atlas Lubricants Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. in 1997 to produce and distribute lubricants, oils and greases in Pakistan.

The Group has entered into the Asset Management in collaboration with ING Investment Management and has set up three funds. In less than a year, the Funds values increased from Rs. 310 million to over Rs. 2.6 billion - relying on further Funds including Pension Funds and other Funds of strategic nature.

The Atlas Group has not only introduced modern technologies in Pakistan but has also promoted corporate governance in harmony with the country's cultural environment, thus providing a sense of participation at every level - from the grass roots to the top. To cope-up with the growing needs of the Group, permanent cells have been established for the Human Resource Development as well as Systems & Technology Cell to introduce the state of the art IT facilities in the Group. The Remuneration Committee is headed by the director from outside the Group and Audit Committee chaired by the non-executive directors in each of the Group Companies.

Realizing its social responsibilities as a corporate citizen, the Group has been playing a role in promoting centers of professional education, contributing to health facilities, helping law enforcement agencies and playing its role in improving the quality of life with the commitment that what has come from the society should be shared with the society. Atlas Foundation has been established in order to focus on community's growth particularly through health care and education.

The growth of the Atlas Group is the result of its focus on good Corporate Governance.

The Group aims to strive for excellence in all areas of endeavors, to make each company in the Group highly profitable, a provider of high quality goods and services, an attractive organization to work for and a reliable business partner and associate.