Details

Written by: Wasim Khan Baloch

Category: INTERVIEWS/PROFILES

Published: 10 April 2018

LEH: ST category enterpreneur, who struggeled a lot and become youngest Millionaire of Ladakh. Better known as Ladakh’s Oxygen Man for his Innovative oxygen renting business. Vicki Niaz started his oxygen plant with his uncle Mohd Iqbal in 2010 ,initially they started testing and did R&D on various aspects of running such heavy machinery in high altitude is not easy job.

After successfully testing high pressure filling he started filling oxygen Industrial cylinders and Medical oxygen cylinders but he was missing something very badly main reason to open up oxygen plant in Ladakh was for tourist who gets sick due to High Altitude sickness such as AMS Acute Mountain Sickness due to low oxygen in the air and Leh, Ladakh is Situated at the High Altitude starting from 4000 mts to 16000 mts so he needed lightweight aluminium oxygen cylinders which can be carried easily so he found Luxfer brand India Assembled lightweight aluminium oxygen cylinders which he introduced it to the region as being exclusive distributor he started selling and renting out cylinders on daily basis to tourist as it added income to taxi owners, travel agents, hotels and guest houses around Leh.

Till now he has sold as many as hundreds of cylinders to various sectors such as taxi drivers, hotels, travel agents, guest houses, hostels and they refill their empty cylinders at his plant,he has two main retails outlet in Leh one is at Pologround and 2nd is at old road opp Hotel Shangrila Ladakh. 

His Innovative way of renting out portable oxygen cylinders got widespread response within 2 years and fatality rate of tourist coming to Ladakh during peak season  due to acute mountain sickness and other syptoms due to low oxygen level in the air  reduced 80%,There are many stories yet to tell how he saved many lives while providing oxygen on time during midnight and in very critical conditions.he his partner and his staffs always carry few extra cylinders in the car for any emergency during midnight there is no excuse from them for outlet closer or work timings and this year they have started 24x7 exclusive delivery van with trained staff. 

Vicki Niaz mastered in technicall aspect of whole operation as well as rectification & repair of heavy machineries where ladakh is technically distance far region place where only few branded vehicle service centre is available and for other extreme  technical jobs people hire technicians  & Engineers from north India on per day charges which is expensive thing to do and no other choice.

Vicki Niaz become dual sponsor for prestigious Mega Event Ladakh Marathon 2017 for sponsoring Bisleri packaged water as Hydrant Partner & Oxygen Partner for the event.  Vicki Niaz is providing oxygen cylinders to the poor families who can’t afford expensive cylinders, at very low cost and even free to many families around Ladakh, oxygen which is in high demand for many elder people of Ladakh he added. True philanthropy requires a disruptive mindset, innovative thinking and a philosophy driven by entrepreneurial insights and creative opportunities. And Niaz  is no exception to the rule.