ISLAMABAD, October 31, 2026: Leading figures from public life, literature, policy and business gathered here in Islamabad to mark the 100th year of Syed Babar Ali at the launch of Syed Babar Ali, A Centennial Tribute, a book by Muhammad Azfar Ahsan on the life and contributions of the veteran industrialist, educationist and philanthropist. The ceremony was organized by the Corporate Pakistan Group and Nutshell Group. It was highlighted that it is very rare that a hero is celebrated during his lifetime and Syed Babar Ali is one of the few who have this honor in the form of this book by Azfar Ahsan.
Noted poet and intellectual, Iftikhar Arif mentioned his relationship with Syed Babar Ali and said, “People talk about his contributions to business, industry and education, but very few know that his services to language, literature and the arts. Syed Babar Ali has preserved languages, literature, calligraphy and the pool of rich traditional and regional knowledge in a way no single person anywhere in the world has done.”
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb said that he started his career with the Packages Group and under the mentorship of Syed Babar Ali and remains linked till this day. “The sharpness, the intellect and perspective and vision of Syed Babar Ali remains amazing till now. People build institutions and Syed Babar Ali is an institution.”
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Dr. Musadik Malik recalled his initial interaction with Syed Babar Ali in the 1980s and said, “Syed Babar Ali saw was a rare visionary who saw opportunities where no one else did. From industrial vision to sustainability, he was way ahead of his time.”
Former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat said, “The world has many isolated success stories, but there are very few instances where durable institutions are established. Syed Babar Ali has the accolade of establishing not one but numerous such institutions.”
Pakistan’s former Chief of Air Staff (2015-2018), ACM Sohail Aman, outlined the contributions of Syed Babar Ali towards economic development and education. He described LUMS as one of the only educational institutions recognized globally for excellence and accredited as having been established by one person.
Chairman, Pakistan Mercantile Exchange, Nadeem Karamat said that Syed Babar Ali was one of the architects of Pakistan’s financial landscape with his long engagement with the World Bank, IFC and Bank of America.
CEO of Planetive, Ayla Majid, spoke about her days at LUMS and encounters with Syed Babar Ali, and said that his contributions are woven deep in Pakistan’s industrial and academic fabric.
Finally, the book’s author, Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, recalled how he came to write the book, linked to Babar Ali’s 100th birthday in June. “Syed Babar Ali’s philosophy has been to learn from others.” He thanked all those who contributed to the book. “The purpose of the book and its message is to be an inspiration for the younger generation,” he added.