AKD Group

AKD Group is a Pakistani diversified business group headquartered in Karachi. Founded in 1947 by Abdul Karim Dhedhi, the group is associated with the Dhedhi family and is chaired by Aqeel Karim Dhedhi. Although its origins predate the modern securities business, the group entered brokerage in 1973 and subsequently expanded into investment banking, mutual funds and other capital-market services. Its financial-services interests include AKD Securities, a securities and investment-services company that launched AKD Trade in 2002, described in reference material as Pakistan's first online brokerage firm. Over time, AKD Group developed a broader conglomerate profile. Its activities have included real estate development and real-estate investment trust management, infrastructure, natural resources, telecommunications and hospitality-related investments. The group has also been linked to the development of Arkadians, a large residential project undertaken for the Defence Housing Authority, and to proposals involving energy generation and the development of Gwadar's port and naval facilities. These initiatives illustrate the group's strategy of combining capital-market expertise with direct participation in large Pakistani development and infrastructure projects. AKD's public profile has been shaped both by its scale and by scrutiny of its businesses. In 2013, Reuters characterized it as one of Pakistan's largest domestic conglomerates, while other contemporary reporting described it as a major Pakistani corporation and securities firm. The group and associated officials were investigated in connection with allegations involving trading in Sui Southern Gas Company shares and, separately, a possible fraud matter concerning the Employees' Old-Age Benefit Institution. In the latter case, three senior officials were arrested in 2017; a federal report issued in August 2018 reportedly concluded that AKD Securities had been falsely implicated for lack of evidence. The group has continued to participate in Pakistan's capital markets and property sectors. In 2015, it was among the early Pakistani groups to establish a REIT-management capability after regulatory changes made new investment structures more feasible. In July 2025, AKD Holding, together with Dawood Jan Muhammad, acquired a majority position in Pakistan Services Limited, the owner and manager of the Pearl Continental Hotels chain, according to the supplied reference material. The transaction indicated an expansion of AKD-associated investment activity into hospitality and potentially gave the consortium influence over Pakistan Services' board and management. Specific current ownership, financial results, corporate structure and official website details are not established in the supplied sources.

AKD Group traces its foundation to 1947, when Abdul Karim Dhedhi established the business in Pakistan. The group later became associated with his son, Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, who is identified as its chairman. Its modern financial-services history began in 1973, when it entered the brokerage business. From that base, AKD expanded into investment banking, mutual funds and related capital-market activities. A major technology and market-structure milestone came in 2002, when the group's brokerage arm, AKD Securities, launched AKD Trade. The service was described in the supplied reference material as Pakistan's first online brokerage firm, reflecting the group's effort to use electronic channels to broaden access to securities trading. The group diversified beyond finance during the following decade. In 2007, it explored investment in four coal-fired power plants. The initial offer was declined because, although the group was considered financially capable, it did not possess the technical capacity required to assure successful implementation. In 2011, AKD Group was involved in a proposed development arrangement for Gwadar port and a naval base alongside the Port of Singapore Authority and Pakistan's National Logistics Cell. The partners were allowed to withdraw after 584 acres at the port entrance, considered necessary for the project, were not surrendered as expected by the Pakistan Navy. Real estate became another important area of activity. AKD Group was involved in Arkadians, a high-rise residential development of approximately 43 acres undertaken for the Defence Housing Authority. The project had been under development by at least 2012. In 2015, following regulatory changes affecting investor ratios and trust structures, AKD became one of the early Pakistani groups to establish a real-estate investment trust management unit. In March 2018, a National Assembly standing committee reportedly praised the quality of government accommodation being constructed in connection with the project and acknowledged the leadership of Aqeel Karim Dhedhi and the supervision of chief executive Ayesha Dhedhi. The group's reputation also attracted regulatory and legal scrutiny. In 2013, AKD and other traders faced allegations of insider trading after investing in Sui Southern Gas Company shortly before an increase in the state-owned gas company's prices. The same period saw descriptions of AKD as one of Pakistan's largest domestic conglomerates and corporations. In 2017, three senior officials were arrested during a raid connected with a possible fraud investigation involving the Employees' Old-Age Benefit Institution. The officials reportedly remained imprisoned for months during the investigation. In August 2018, a federal report titled “False implication of AKD Securities in EOBI scandal” reportedly concluded that the evidence did not support the case against AKD Securities. By 2018, reporting characterized AKD as a capital-market giant and a leading Pakistani securities firm, while also noting its presence in real estate, brokerage, financial services, infrastructure, natural resources and telecommunications. The supplied material further records a July 2025 investment by AKD Holding, acting with Dawood Jan Muhammad, in Pakistan Services Limited, the owner and manager of the Pearl Continental Hotels chain. The reported majority acquisition broadened AKD-associated activity into hospitality and raised the prospect of a change in control at Pakistan Services. Current operational details, group subsidiaries, financial performance and ownership arrangements require verification from more recent primary sources.

• 2025

  Investment in Pakistan Services

  AKD Holding joined Dawood Jan Muhammad in acquiring a reported majority position in Pakistan Services Limited.

• 2018

  Federal report cleared AKD Securities

  [1]AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org

  A federal report reportedly found that AKD Securities had been falsely implicated in the EOBI scandal for lack of evidence.

• 2017

  EOBI investigation

  [1]AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Three senior officials were arrested during an investigation into possible fraud involving the Employees' Old-Age Benefit Institution.

• 2015

  REIT-management expansion

  [1]AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org

  AKD became one of the early Pakistani groups to establish a real-estate investment trust management unit after relevant regulatory changes.

• 2011

  Withdrawal from Gwadar development arrangement

  [1]AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org

  AKD and its partners were permitted to withdraw from a proposed Gwadar port and naval-base development after required land was not surrendered.

• 2007

  Coal-power investment proposal

  [1]AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group explored investment in four coal-fired power plants, but its initial offer was declined because of limited technical capacity.

• 2002

  Launch of AKD Trade

  [1]AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org

  AKD Securities launched AKD Trade, described as Pakistan's first online brokerage firm.

• 1973

  Entry into securities brokerage

  [1]AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group began operating as a brokerage house and later expanded into investment banking and mutual funds.

• 1947

  AKD Group founded

  [1]AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Abdul Karim Dhedhi founded the business in Pakistan.

A diversified Pakistani conglomerate combining capital-market services with property, infrastructure and strategic-sector investments.

• Securities brokerage and investment services

  AKD Securities

  AKD Securities is the group's brokerage and investment-services arm. Its activities are associated with securities dealing and broader capital-market services. The business is central to AKD Group's identity as a Pakistani financial-services and investment group and has historically been connected with the group's investment banking and mutual-fund activities.

• Online brokerage platform · 2002

  AKD Trade

  AKD Trade is an electronic brokerage service launched by AKD Securities in 2002. Reference material describes it as Pakistan's first online brokerage firm, making it an important technology milestone in the group's securities business and in the development of electronic access to Pakistani capital markets.

• Real-estate development

  Arkadians

  Arkadians is a large high-rise residential development associated with AKD Group and undertaken on behalf of the Defence Housing Authority. The project covers approximately 43 acres and had been under development by at least 2012. It also became connected with the group's early REIT-management activities.

• 2018

  AKD Securities cleared in EOBI matter

  A federal report reportedly concluded that AKD Securities had been falsely implicated in the EOBI scandal because of insufficient evidence.

  Source

• 2017

  Employees' Old-Age Benefit Institution investigation

  Three senior AKD officials were arrested during a raid connected with an investigation into possible fraud involving the Employees' Old-Age Benefit Institution. The officials reportedly remained in jail for months during the investigation.

  Source

• 2013

  Allegations concerning Sui Southern Gas Company trading

  AKD and other traders came under scrutiny over allegations of insider trading after investing in Sui Southern Gas Company shortly before an increase in the government-owned gas company's prices.

  Source

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• 2025

  Acquisition of a majority position in Pakistan ServicesM&A

  Background

  AKD Holding joined Dawood Jan Muhammad in acquiring shares in Pakistan Services Limited, the company associated with the Pearl Continental Hotels chain.

  Action taken

  The consortium acquired a reported majority stake, potentially giving it influence over Pakistan Services' board and management.

  Aftermath

  The transaction raised the possibility of a change in control and expanded AKD-associated investment activity into hospitality.

• 2015

  Creation of a REIT-management unitStrategy

  Background

  Regulatory easing concerning investor ratios created an opportunity for new Pakistani real-estate investment trust structures.

  Action taken

  AKD established a REIT-management capability linked to its property activities and the Arkadians development.

  Aftermath

  The move positioned the group among the early Pakistani participants in the REIT-management sector.

  Source

• 2011

  Withdrawal from Gwadar port development arrangementStrategy

  Background

  AKD participated with the Port of Singapore Authority and the National Logistics Cell in a proposed Gwadar port and naval-base development.

  Action taken

  AKD and its partners were permitted to withdraw after land required at the mouth of the port was not surrendered as expected.

  Aftermath

  The proposed arrangement did not continue with AKD as a participant.

  Source

• 2007

  Consideration of coal-fired power investmentsStrategy

  Background

  AKD explored participation in four coal-fired power plants as part of an expansion into energy infrastructure.

  Action taken

  The group's initial offer was declined because it lacked the technical capability required to assure successful project execution.

  Aftermath

  The proposed investment did not proceed on the reported terms.

  Source

• 2025

  AKD-led consortium acquired a majority stake in Pakistan Services

  M&A

  AKD Holding and Dawood Jan Muhammad jointly acquired approximately 56% of Pakistan Services Limited, the company associated with the Pearl Continental Hotels chain.

1. 1AKD Groupen.wikipedia.org