Deans come and go but alumni are forever: Dr Ishrat Husain

IBA bids farewell to its dean and director Dr Ishrat Husain

KARACHI: A single individual does not make a difference; it is teamwork that helps us achieve goals but in Pakistan, unfortunately, there is so much negativity and cynicism that it has stopped us from working together, said Dr Ishrat Husain.

He was speaking at his own farewell ceremony titled 'A Tribute to Dr Ishrat Husain' hosted by the alumni of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at IBA's City Campus on Sunday night. Addressing members of the faculty, alumni and guests, Dr Husain said that there are three countries that he admires the most - Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Although the common factors between the three countries were their history of conflict and devastation, there is also something else they share, he explained. "All three countries are leaders as far as economic development is concerned," he said.

"I tell my students that all of them are much more talented than the ordinary students of Japan, Korea and Vietnam," said Dr Husain. "The difference is that Japan, Korea and Vietnam have included the government, private sector, academia and civil society together to work towards the larger goal of their country, making one plus one equal to eleven," he added.

Speaking about the economy, he said that even in 1971, the exports from East Pakistan were one half of West Pakistan's exports. "Last year their textile exports alone were close to $25 billion, while ours were around $13 to $14 billion," he lamented.

"If we all, in our little domains, work as a team and not in different directions we would be doing a service. Don't expect a messiah to come and fix the problems of this country," he warned.

Referring to the alumni, he said that deans and governors come and go but what remains a constant factor in institutions of higher learning is its alumni. "You are the owners. You have to take interest. Whatever you are today is because of this institution. You have to give it back," he told the alumni present at the event.

Acting dean of IBA Dr Sayeed Ghani commended on the Dr Husain's tenure and said that IBA went through a transformation that very few institutions go through, especially in the educational aspect.

A video created by an IBA student was also screened, in which the transformation of IBA through the years was shown.

The programme was followed by a musical night where alumnus Salman Alvi performed. A moment of silence was also observed for the victims of the Lahore blast.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th,  2016.