Leadership Camp 2026: Developing Aitchison's Young Leaders
Aitchison College’s Leadership Camp 2026 brought together students for a residential programme centred on leadership, character, teamwork, and a deeper appreciation of the College’s values and traditions. Through keynote addresses, interactive sessions, sporting and creative activities, and opportunities for reflection, students were encouraged to view leadership not simply as a position of authority, but as a responsibility grounded in character, judgement, and service.
Thursday, 13 August
The Leadership Camp commenced with students arriving at Godley House and Kelly House, where they were accommodated throughout the programme. Following breakfast, the formal proceedings began in the Auditorium with an introduction by the Headmistress Senior School, Madam Amina Kamran, who outlined the context and objectives of the programme.
The first keynote session, ‘Leadership Beyond the Badge’, was delivered by Mr. Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, former Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan and recipient of the Hilal-i-Imtiaz. He encouraged students to look beyond titles and positions, emphasising that meaningful leadership is defined by character, responsibility, and the ability to influence others positively.
Air Marshal Aamir Masood (Retd.), former Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, followed with ‘Lessons from the Playing Field’. Drawing on his experience in sport and service, he highlighted discipline, teamwork, resilience, and sound decision-making as essential qualities of effective leadership.
After lunch, Mr. Umar Atta Bandial, former Chief Justice of Pakistan, addressed the students on ‘Tradition and Innovation: Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future’. He reflected on the importance of preserving institutional values while remaining open to innovation and the demands of a rapidly evolving world.
Later, Syed Hyder Ali, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Packages Limited, led ‘Leadership Under Pressure: When Actions Matter Most’. He emphasised the importance of sound judgement and composure when leaders face difficult circumstances and consequential decisions.
The evening programme continued with an interactive activity led by Deputy Headmaster Senior School, Dr. M. Kamran, allowing students to engage with the themes explored during the day. Following dinner, the day concluded with a creative and collaborative activity organised by the Art Teachers in the Physics Lab.
Friday, 14th August
The second day coincided with Pakistan’s Independence Day and began with a Flag Hoisting Ceremony in front of the Main Building Hall, providing a fitting start to a day centred on heritage, character, teamwork, and responsibility.
Following breakfast, students attended a talk by the Head of Archives, visited the Archive Centre, and took part in a quiz on the history of Pakistan and Aitchison College. The activities encouraged students to connect their understanding of leadership with the College’s history and traditions.
In the Auditorium, Dr Asim Ijaz Khwaja, Director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University, delivered ‘Teamwork: The Heart of Success’. He highlighted collaboration and collective effort as essential to achieving shared goals.
This was followed by a panel discussion, ‘Character in the Modern World: What Defines a Gentleman Today?’, featuring Barrister Momin Malik, Former Head Boy, Mr Sadiq Karim Soofi, Former Head Boy; and Mr Daniyal Khichi, Former Deputy Head Boy. The discussion explored the continuing relevance of integrity, courtesy, responsibility, and character in contemporary life.
Following lunch, Ms Tosheeba Sarwar, US Admissions Counsellor at Aitchison College, conducted ‘Turning Conflict into Opportunity: The Leader’s Challenge’. Students explored how leaders can approach disagreement constructively and turn challenging situations into opportunities for progress. Students then took part in a swimming session, followed by tea and a break for “Maghrib” prayers.
The evening session, ‘Leadership is a Responsibility’, was delivered by Mr Meharyar Patudi, an esteemed Old Boy and descendant of the first student of Aitchison College. He reinforced the idea that leadership carries responsibility towards others and must be exercised with purpose.
Following dinner, students took part in a Metacognition Session with the panel members across Godley, Kelly, LJ, Shirazi, and Headmistress Senior School’s Office. These sessions provided an opportunity to reflect on the day’s experiences and consider their own approaches to leadership and personal development.
Saturday, 15 August
The final day of the on-campus programme began with breakfast, followed by another ‘Teamwork: The Heart of Success’ session conducted by Ms Anam Amama, School Psychologist at Aitchison College, in the Physics Lab. The activity reinforced the importance of cooperation, communication, and shared responsibility.
Students subsequently participated in updating the boards at Barry Block, putting teamwork and collective responsibility into practice within the College environment.
The residential component concluded at Shamim Khan Hall, where the Principal, Dr. S.M. Turab Hussain delivered the concluding remarks at a Tea Party attended by the boys and their parents. The gathering provided an opportunity to reflect upon the experiences of the preceding days and brought the first phase of Leadership Camp 2026 to a fitting close.
