Syed Babar Ali
The Centenarian Celebration
Celebrating 100 years of leadership, service, philanthropy, education, and an enduring commitment to Aitchison College.
Celebrating 100 years of leadership, service, philanthropy, education, and an enduring commitment to Aitchison College.
Syed Babar Ali s/o Syed Maratib Ali attended Aitchison College from 1934 to 1943. A Day Boy at Aitchison, he was initially part of Boarding House No. 2 and then the Jubilee House from 1936 onwards.
He received the Albel Singh Watson Gold Medal (for best candidate in History) and the Dane Bhima Gold Medal (for standing first in Science and Mathematics) in 1941. He served as School Prefect from 1942 to 1943 and was awarded Swimming Colours (1942), Tennis Colours (1943), Cricket Colours (1943), and the Full School Sports Blazer (1943).
He was part of the Aitchison College Swimming Team, Water Polo Team, and Cricket Team. He was also appointed Assistant Editor of The Aitchisonian Magazine in 1941 and served on the Council of State of Aitchisonia.
A leading industrialist, philanthropist, and educationist, Syed Babar Ali played a pivotal role in Pakistan's industrial development through the establishment of Packages Limited and the introduction of Nestlé in Pakistan. He also served as Pakistan's Caretaker Finance Minister in 1993 and as President of WWF from 1996 to 1999.
His commitment to education led to the founding of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in 1985 and the Ali Institute of Education in 1992.
Syed Babar Ali is the largest donor in the history of Aitchison College and remains its only Platinum Donor. He was the first alumnus to support the "Honour Your Teacher" (HYT) and "Honour Your Friend" (HYF) initiatives.
"My nine years at Aitchison were the best of my life."
"Aitchison's greatest strength lies in 'tarbiyat', instilling character, humility, integrity, teamwork and ethical leadership."
— Syed Babar Ali
Syed Babar Ali is the senior-most alumnus of Aitchison College and its longest-serving Member of the Board of Governors. A leading industrialist, philanthropist, and educationist, Syed Babar Ali played a pivotal role in Pakistan's industrial development through the establishment of Packages Limited and the introduction of Nestlé in Pakistan. His commitment to education led to the founding of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in 1985, and the Ali Institute of Education in 1992.
In 2020, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in the category of Business, Corporate and Philanthropic Leadership, becoming only the second Pakistani to be elected as an International Honorary Member in the Academy's 240-year history.
Syed Babar Ali: A Century of Leadership.