Karachi: The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, in collaboration with the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF) Islamabad, has inaugurated a dedicated facility in the federal capital.
The inauguration was attended by more than 200 participants from diverse fields. Focusing on IBA Karachi’s executive and organizational development philosophy, the new office will offer leadership and management development programs for family businesses, public sectors, state-owned enterprises, and corporates in the northern regions. IBA aims to bring opportunities for organizations and individuals through action learning-based capacity building initiatives, research, forums, think tanks, and consultancies. This venture will help meet the increasing demands of today’s business world.
Attendees from IBA included Dr. S Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director; Dr. Asad Ilyas, Registrar; Dr. Abdullah Zafar Sheikh, Dean, School of Business Studies (SBS); Dr. Shakeel Khoja, Dean, School of Mathematics and Computer Science (SMCS); Dr. Irum Saba, Associate Professor, SBS; Kamran Bilgrami, Director CEE; Dr. Sharjeel Hasnie, Head of Testing Services; and members of the Board of Governors (BoG), namely, Nadeem Hussain, Saba Kamal and Mohammed Sohail, Alumni Representative on the BoG.
The event commenced with a welcome note from IBA alumnus and MOC, Sibtain Naqvi. The IBA Islamabad Office at NIBAF was inaugurated by Akif Saeed, Chief Guest and Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan; Riaz Chunara, Managing Director, NIBAF; and Dr. Zaidi.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the collaboration, Mr. Bilgrami stated, “This transformative partnership will open new avenues for our students and faculty to engage with industry professionals. By combining our strengths, we can bridge the gap between academia and industry and create a positive impact on education, fostering innovation in Pakistan.”
Mr. Chunara emphasized the importance of academia-industry collaboration, stating, “We believe that through this partnership, we can address critical issues such as corporate governance and digital transformation. By working together, we can foster a culture of innovation and equip professionals with the skills needed to excel in their respective fields.”
Commenting on IBA’s new facility, Dr. Zaidi said: “I am truly impressed by the transformative potential of this collaboration between IBA and NIBAF. This strategic alliance opens new horizons for executive education and knowledge exchange, particularly in the areas of corporate governance, public policy, and digital transformation. I am confident that this partnership will pave the way for impactful initiatives and create a lasting impact on our education and learning landscape.” He further added that together, we can empower professionals across various sectors to enhance their skills and contribute to the progress of Pakistan.
A panel discussion on the future of executive education in Pakistan also took place. Panelists included Sadia Khan, Javed Iqbal, and Dr. Khoja. CEE Trainer, Bulent Sohail, moderated the discussion.
Earlier, IBA and NIBAF inked an MoU to establish a remote IBA office at NIBAF, Islamabad. Under this agreement, the two institutes will offer joint leadership and management development programs. Mementos were presented to the esteemed guests by Dr. Zaidi.
Mr. Bilgrami concluded the evening by sharing his final thoughts and thanking the attendees for their participation. The evening came to an end with a networking dinner.
