IoBM Empowers Pakistan’s Future: 1,515 Degrees Awarded at 28th Convocation

The Institute of Business Management (IoBM) marked a significant milestone with its 28th Convocation, which conferred degrees upon 1,515 graduates across diverse programs, including BBA, BS, MBA, MPhil, and PhD. The graduating class featured notable academic achievements, with 19 students receiving gold medals and 64 earning Merit Certificates.

This year’s ceremony was particularly special as it coincided with IoBM’s 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades since the College of Business Management (CBM) welcomed its first students in September 1995.

Guest of Honor, the President of The Aga Khan University, Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, said that among the graduates, he sees a generation with immense potential and recognizes in them the emerging leaders of Pakistan. He urged them to remain optimistic, noting that the future will be shaped by their ideas and their efforts. He advised the graduates to become regular readers, safeguard their health, and remain lifelong learners.

During his Welcome Address, IoBM Chancellor Mr. M. Bashir Janmohammad said that the true chief guests of the day were the graduates’ parents, who had made countless sacrifices. He urged the graduates to uphold honesty and a commitment to contributing positively to Pakistan. He encouraged them to give back to the country and develop an entrepreneurial mindset as they step into their professional lives.

Presenting the progress report, IoBM President Talib Syed Karim described the past year as “one of the most defining” in the institute’s thirty-year history. He noted that IoBM strengthened its global standing by submitting its AACSB application and becoming the first university in Pakistan to be recognized as a member institution of the Business Graduate Association and the Association of MBAs. IoBM’s President praised students for their commitment to welfare initiatives, reaffirming the institute’s dedication to community service. He said the graduates were celebrating not only their academic success but also their representation of IoBM beyond the classroom. Their dedication to sports, he added, brought pride to the institution, with students earning several victories in karate, badminton, bodybuilding, hockey, mountaineering, and football at national and international levels.

During his keynote address, Mirza Salman Beg, CEO of Enterprising Manufacturing Co. Pvt. Ltd. and an IoBM alumnus (MBA 1998), encouraged the graduates to leverage their education and commit to lifelong learning to achieve meaningful success. He said that perfection should not be the goal; instead, one should master the art of continuous improvement. He emphasized the importance of developing a clear direction in life and channeling one’s focus. He urged the graduates to avoid measuring themselves by titles.

Valedictorian Ammar Shahkar Sayied (BBA Honors), who received the Shahjehan Syed Karim Gold Medal for the highest CGPA, spoke about how IoBM’s faculty, classmates, and learning environment helped him succeed. He encouraged his fellow graduates to follow their dreams with determination and confidence.

The Convocation of the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) was attended by the Senior Leadership including Chancellor, Mr. M. Bashir Janmohammad; President, Mr. Talib Syed Karim; Vice President FHE and Chief Advisor, Ms. Sabina Mohsin; Rector, Prof. Dr. Tariq Rahim Soomro; Dean CBM, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kashif; Dean CCSIS, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abbas; Dean CESD, Dr. Nadia Ayub; along with HoDs, Faculty, Management and Staff.

The ceremony was conducted by Ms. Juveria Baig, Head of the Career Development Center & Office of International Cooperation, who served as the Master of Ceremonies.

When speaking in memory of IoBM’s late Founder President, Mr. Shahjehan Syed Karim, she said that this is the ninth convocation since his passing. In his honor, she quoted from his 2013 convocation speech: “Never forget that where you are today is the result of your parents’ loving care, their prayers, and their sacrifices. Respect them under all circumstances.”

Tilawat-e-Quran and Darood Sharif were recited by Abdul Saboor Khan (MS Mathematics and Scientific Computing), with the translation delivered by Mehak Ghias (BBA Honors).

Procession of Graduates:

A key tradition at IoBM’s ceremony is the entrance of the graduating procession into the main venue. The ceremonial flags, representing the institute and its constituent colleges, were carried as follows:

• IoBM Institute Flag: Carried by Dr. Imam Uddin, Director of the Center for Islamic Business & Finance (CIBF), who led the entire graduates’ procession.
• College of Business Management (CBM) Flag: Held by Muneeba Ashraf (BS Accounting and Finance).
• College of Computer Science and Information Systems (CCSIS) Flag: Held by Hania Asim (BS Computer Science).
• College of Engineering Sciences and Development (CESD) Flag: Held by Kanwal Jaffer (Bachelor of Education).

The 28th Convocation of IoBM served as a major milestone, not only for the graduating students but also for the Institute itself, as it was held during IoBM’s 30th anniversary year. This ceremony celebrated three decades of commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and nation-building.

The institution, which began in 1995 with the establishment of the College of Business Management (CBM), has since expanded to become one of Pakistan’s most respected centers for higher education, renowned for its focus on quality learning, industry relevance, and holistic student development. Over the past thirty years, IoBM has transformed into a vibrant academic hub that continually evolves to meet the demands of the modern, global workforce.

Today, the Institute comprises four constituent colleges: the College of Business Management (CBM), the College of Computer Science and Information Systems (CCSIS), the College of Engineering and Sciences (CES), and the College of Economics and Social Development (CESD). Under this comprehensive umbrella, IoBM offers a wide spectrum of programs, ranging across fields such as business, accounting, finance, and entrepreneurship, to computer science, data science, software engineering, psychology, economics, media studies, and engineering management.

Gold Medalists:

Dr. Shagufta Rafif, Co-Convenor of the Convocation Planning Committee (CPC), announced the recipients of the Gold Medals. Their names, academic programs, and the specific Gold Medals received are listed below:

Merit Certificates:

The recipients of the Merit Certificates were announced by Dr. Fariha Raza, Head of Department (HoD) Marketing (Academic side), and Muhammad Asghar Khan, HoD Computer Science. The names and programs of the Merit Certificate recipients are listed below:

BBA (Honors): Ayesha Ahmed, Shabbir Ahmed, Fiza Ali, Dua Manan Ansari, Maliha Arif, Saifullah Asif, Yamina Aslam, Falza Batool, Elleta Anneka Fernandes, Mehak Ghias, Madiha Javed, Muhammad Ashhal Kazi, Manoj Kumar, Tisha d/o Lachhman, Mahnoor Malik, Saima Rahman, Aaqiba Fahim Rehmani, Rabia Yousuf, and Beenish Zehra.

BS (Honors) Accountancy, Management and Law: Fatima Jawed.

BS (Honors) Accounting & Finance: Easha Kashif and Abdullah Mohammad Rehmatullah Rashid, Alvina Aamir, Maryam Ameen, Minhal Asif, Pooja d/o Bhagchand, Mehwish d/o Abdul Ghaffar, Maheen Irfan, Muhammad Kashan, Hana Malik, Muskan Mushtaq, Hoor Abdul Razzak, Zainab Arif Subhan, Dua Zehra, Habiba Abdullah, Syeda Sara Ali, Ramsha Arif, Myna Arshad, Kanchal Kumari, and Areesha Siddiqui.

BS (Mathematics and Economics): Syed Faaiz Ahmed.

BS (Honors) Business and Psychology: Yamna Akhter, Zoya Muhammad Ali, Najaf Fatima, Anmol Jiwani, Shiza Khalid, Bisma Naveed, and Kashaf Khaleel Yousfani.

BS (Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership): Karim Amin.

BS (Entrepreneurship): Sarah Ahmad, Yousuf Imran, Muhammad Rohail.

Bachelor of Education: Muniza Ashraf, Syed Ehtasham Hasan, Afrah Majeed, Rida Najam, Shaza Nisar, and Tehmina Akhtar.

MBA (Weekend): Hammad Ali Soomar.

MBA (Regular): Suman Siddiqui.

MPhil (Education): Maria Sahar.

MPhil (Organizational Psychology): Rooh E Fatima and Imaan Saleem.

PhD (Education): Amina Murad.

PhD (Business Management): Anam Qamar.

The 28th Graduation ceremony means a very skilled group of graduates produced by the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) is now officially ready to enter the corporate sector. These new professionals will use the skills, focus, and good values they learned at IoBM. They are prepared to handle tough challenges and help Pakistan’s economy and society grow. As they begin their careers, they bring with them IoBM’s strong history of three decades of great teaching. This strength is seen clearly in IoBM’s large network of successful alumni, who hold important jobs worldwide in areas like business leadership, banking, technology, and public service. IoBM’s main goal remains the same: to create capable, responsible, and forward-thinking professionals who will lead the future.