Habib University held a dedication ceremony for the Talaab-e-Hikmat, a collaborative learning space in The Horizon, in recognition of Meezan Bank’s support. The dedication reflects a shared commitment between two of Pakistan’s leading institutions in education and finance to fostering spaces that promote thoughtful dialogue, collective learning, and the exchange of ideas within higher education.
The ceremony was attended by senior leadership from both organizations, including Habib University President Mr. Wasif Rizvi; Meezan Bank Founding President Mr. Irfan Siddiqui; Group Executive, Operations & Branch Banking, Mr. Zia ul Hasan; Head of Shariah Department, Mr. Shayan Baig; Head of MEP, Sustainability/CSR & HSE, Mr. Mehboob Alam Khan; and Manager, Shariah Department, Mr. Kashif Nisar.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Irfan Siddiqui, Founding President, Meezan Bank, reflected on his longstanding association with Habib University, which began as a parent and later evolved into that of a supporter. Emphasizing the importance of character building alongside technical education, he emphasized that technical competence alone does not prepare individuals to act responsibly or effectively in the real world.
“Character development is extremely important for our students because at the end of the day, they would go and work in the outside world and create impressions based on how good they are as human beings,” he said. “I think here [at Habib University], you are doing a very good job.”
Mr. Irfan Siddiqui also assured continued support for Habib University across different areas in the future.
Habib University President Mr. Wasif Rizvi expressed his gratitude to the leadership of Meezan Bank and acknowledged the vision of Mr. Irfan Siddiqui. He described the establishment of Meezan Bank and its emergence as the leading bank in the country as a significant achievement.
“It is remarkable what Meezan Bank has been able to achieve,” Mr. Wasif Rizvi said. “We are truly inspired by it. Habib University has a similar story.”
Situating the partnership within a broader intellectual context, he drew a parallel between Habib University’s philosophy grounded in local knowledge traditions and Meezan Bank’s position as the country’s first Islamic bank. “That is where I think these two institutions converge, and that is something that we like to feel good about,” he remarked.
As part of the ceremony, Meezan Bank presented a cheque to Habib University, followed by the presentation of a memento to Meezan Bank’s senior leadership by Mr. Wasif Rizvi. The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of the plaque at the Meezan Bank Talaab-e-Hikmat.
Inspired by the concept of contained bodies of water that nurture vibrant ecosystems, the Meezan Bank Talaab-e-Hikmat, located at The Horizon on the fourth floor of Habib University, is a dedicated space designed to support collaborative learning, thoughtful discourse, and the exchange of ideas, encouraging conversations that can evolve into transformative, real-world impact.