About

Established in 1946 by our founder, Padarath Achaibar Lal (P A Lal), P A Lal Holdings Pte Limited is a distinguished and independently family-owned business. From its humble beginnings, P A Lal overcame challenges, demonstrating his determination and resilience.

Starting with humble jobs like peanut selling, gardening, and housework, P A Lal’s journey led him to join P. Maybin Constructions, where he honed his carpentry skills for six years. This experience became the cornerstone of his future achievements.

During World War II, P A Lal temporarily left the building trade due to circumstances. He faced health issues, underwent a hernia operation, and recovered in the hospital amidst the blacked-out war alert nights.

In 1934, with the savings accumulated by his parents, P A Lal bought a dilapidated eight-seater bus, which he repaired using his carpentry expertise. He became the first official Road Service Licence holder on the Tamavua route in Fiji’s Central Division. The profits reinvested into the business allowed him to construct two eighteen-seater buses using pre-war Chevrolet truck bodies.

Undeterred by the lack of vehicles, P A Lal purchased a ten-wheeler truck from an army auction. Stripping it down to the frame, he rebuilt it as a remarkable twenty-nine-seater bus in his Mead Road workshop in Suva. This bus stood out as the largest on the roads at that time, marking the beginning of Fiji’s bus industry.

As other operators recognized his skills, P A Lal had to cease driving and focus on bus production. This necessitated the relocation of the business to a new factory in Moala Street, Samabula. Over the next two decades, the company experienced steady growth and emerged as a crucial supplier of motor bodies in Fiji.

In 1963, during a trip to Fiji, Hadden Hawke of renowned bus builders Hawke Bros met with P A Lal. The two individuals shared a connection and remained friends thereafter. P A Lal’s eldest son, Gene Lal, spent three years at Hawke Bros, learning their advanced construction techniques and returned to Fiji to manage the company.

Hawke Bros was renowned for their innovative cruciform construction technique, which enabled faster and stronger bus construction with flexible design options tailored to manufacturers’ requirements.

Construction on the current factory in Walu Bay began in 1967. While bus building remained the primary focus, the company expanded into other divisions such as vehicle repairs, furniture cabinet making, wrought iron products, and fiberglass manufacturing.

By 1969, the company had obtained a license to utilize the Rothmans Design Award-winning cruciform construction technique in Fiji. This contributed to the durability and safety of buses, ensuring a secure travel experience for all passengers.

In November 1974, P A Lal retired from the business, passing the torch to his eldest son, Gene Lal. P A Lal’s unwavering work ethic, intelligence, and leadership laid the foundation for the company’s success, which continues to thrive today. Trust P A Lal Holdings for a legacy of excellence nurtured through generations.