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ICLAB Focus Group 2025
No full textFrom June 18 to 20, 2025, the Career, Development Center (CDC) at IBA Karachi hosted ICLAB Focus Group sessions to align academic programs with evolving industry needs. Across seven thematic areas—Finance, Marketing, Retail, Software Development, Analytics, Entrepreneurship, and the Social Sector—industry experts and faculty discussed skill gaps, curriculum relevance, and workplace readiness. Key recommendations included enhancing communication and technical skills, increasing practical exposure through internships and real-world projects, updating course content to reflect digital trends like AI, ERP, and data analytics, and fostering stronger industry-academia collaboration. The sessions emphasized preparing students not only with knowledge but also the adaptability and mindset to thrive in dynamic professional environments.https://ir.iba.edu.pk/career-development-center-gallery/1092/thumbnail.jp
ICLAB Focus Group 2025
No full textFrom June 18 to 20, 2025, the Career, Development Center (CDC) at IBA Karachi hosted ICLAB Focus Group sessions to align academic programs with evolving industry needs. Across seven thematic areas—Finance, Marketing, Retail, Software Development, Analytics, Entrepreneurship, and the Social Sector—industry experts and faculty discussed skill gaps, curriculum relevance, and workplace readiness. Key recommendations included enhancing communication and technical skills, increasing practical exposure through internships and real-world projects, updating course content to reflect digital trends like AI, ERP, and data analytics, and fostering stronger industry-academia collaboration. The sessions emphasized preparing students not only with knowledge but also the adaptability and mindset to thrive in dynamic professional environments.https://ir.iba.edu.pk/career-development-center-gallery/1097/thumbnail.jp
Maverick Mentorship Program – Spring 2025
No full textIBA CDC successfully held the Maverick Mentorship Program at IBA Karachi, offering track-specific guidance for students in IT, Social Sciences, and Business Studies. Students benefited from personalized CV reviews, career guidance, and industry insights—empowering them to move forward with clarity and confidence.https://ir.iba.edu.pk/career-development-center-gallery/1109/thumbnail.jp
Maverick Mentorship Program – Spring 2025
No full textIBA CDC successfully held the Maverick Mentorship Program at IBA Karachi, offering track-specific guidance for students in IT, Social Sciences, and Business Studies. Students benefited from personalized CV reviews, career guidance, and industry insights—empowering them to move forward with clarity and confidence.https://ir.iba.edu.pk/career-development-center-gallery/1112/thumbnail.jp
Parvaaz Mentorship Program – Cohort III Kicks Off
No full textThe Parvaaz Mentorship Program – Cohort III officially launched on June 3rd, 2025, with a successful Meet and Greet Session at the IBA Main Campus. The event brought together mentors and mentees for their first in-person interaction—an opportunity to connect, align expectations, and lay the foundation for a year of growth, guidance, and professional development. We’re excited to witness the journeys that will unfold through this impactful mentorship experience.https://ir.iba.edu.pk/career-development-center-gallery/1126/thumbnail.jp
Examining the Impact of Sense of Agency on Authentic Leadership Qualities in Organizational Leaders
No full textBased on Self-Determination Theory and Authentic Leadership Theory, the present study examined the link between Sense of Agency (SoA) and Authentic Leadership (AL) among organizational leaders. Methods There were two studies: Study 1 was a longitudinal, mixed-methods study, to test the link between leaders\u27 sense of agency, experience of ethos and leadership authenticity, and Study 2 was a cross-sectional survey, to test the link between leaders\u27 agency, leadership authenticity and psychological distress. The Sense of Agency Scale and Authentic Leadership Questionnaire were used to collect quantitative data from 50 leaders. Analyses of the relationships using Pearson correlation and linear regression methods revealed an exceedingly weak, non-significant relationship and sensibly low explanatory capacity), suggesting SoA is not a statistically significant predictor of AL. Qualitative interviews were conducted to understand the context of these findings, and while agency can advance confidence and determinism, relational ethics and an organizational culture which allows for structural flexibility were shown to be paramount for authentic leadership. Despite possessing fierce agency to speak up, participants described hierarchical rigidity and high power-distance norms as restrictions to their authentic expression. The synthesized findings conclude that agency may not be an adequate condition for being a genuine leader but rather a context-dependent phenomenon requiring surrounding environments that foster authentic leadership. Finally, it adds to leadership scholarship by highlighting cultural and structural mediators and argues for development programs that target one-on-one personal empowerment intertwined with system change
Strategic Recalibration Under Pressure: Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Response to U.S. Sanctions (1998–2008)
No full textThe paper explores the recalibration of Pakistan’s foreign policy in the aftermath of sanctions imposed by the United States following the 1998 nuclear tests. It situates the diplomatic shift in the context of geopolitical changes that occurred in the South Asia region after the end of Cold war era. The thesis holds that sanctions were not merely measures to punish but rather acted as a catalyst compelling Pakistan to reshape its foreign policy, balancing its ties with western and non-western allies.
The study uses neo-classical framework to understand how internal and external factors played a role in shaping the foreign policy during the period 1998 to 2008. It employs a qualitative, historical case study by utilizing primary sources, such as official documents and UN documents, and secondary literature, such as scholarly work and policy papers to assess the shift in diplomatic orientation.
The study is relevant to understand how external factors, such as sanctions, interact with internal factors, such as economic vulnerabilities, to produce an unexpected outcome. This study delves deeper into both the academic and scholarly perspectives on sanctions, and their unintended consequences, and policy discussions on Pakistan\u27s shifting role in regional and international political evolutions. Based on a critical analysis of Pakistan\u27s strategic realignment, the study fills a significant gap in the literature on its foreign policy trajectory after 1998 and its long term consequences to U.S.-Pakistan relations
Evaluating Oreo\u27s Market Performance After the Price Increase
No full textThis project seeks into how Oreo’s recent price increase has affected its performance in Pakistan’s biscuit market. Over the last few years, especially with economic pressure rising in 2023–24, consumers have become a lot more price-sensitive. Oreo, which is known as a premium brand under Continental Biscuits Limited (CBL), raised its prices in response to cost pressures—but this seems to have changed how people think about and buy the product. The goal of our project was to assess Oreo’s brand equity, retail performance, consumer behavior, and competitive positioning after the price hike. We also looked into whether Oreo’s communication strategies and retailer incentives were still effective in this new environment. To do this, we used a mixed-method approach: primary data was collected via surveys (with over 70 respondents), in-depth interviews, store audits, and two focus groups (one with children, one with adults). We also reviewed market literature and studied over 20 case examples from Pakistan’s FMCG and biscuit industry to support or contrast our observations. The findings showed a drop in repeat purchases and a shift towards brands like Prince and Rio, especially in SEC B and C households. Consumers found Oreo les value-for-money, especially when compared to competitors offering more grammage at the same or lower price. Retailers were also found to be less interested in pushing Oreo SKUs due to slower turnover and limited trade promotions. Brand equity has held up in terms of awareness, but brand loyalty and perceived value have clearly been affected. Communication gaps were noticed, especially post-Ramzan, where Oreo failed to maintain strong visibilit
Optimizing Knorr’s Pricing Strategy to Maximize Profits and Market Share
No full textThe primary objective of this report is to address the critical business problem of declining sales volume and collapsing profitability for Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited\u27s (UPFL) flagship Knorr noodles brand. This is achieved by moving beyond historical assumptions to quantitatively determine the key drivers of demand across its portfolio. This Experiential Learning Project (ELP) was designed to perform a rigorous pricing analysis of Unilever Pakistan Foods’ (UPFL) Knorr noodles portfolio in a challenging economic climate. The main objective of the project was to move beyond simple correlations and employ sophisticated statistical methods to accurately measure the price elasticity of demand for each key product in the portfolio. The ultimate aim was to enable Unilever to maximize revenue and profits while strengthening its market position against growing competition and shifting consumer preferences ,particularly amongst a digitally native, price-conscious Generation Z and to provide actionable pricing strategies for future growth.
To achieve these goals, we followed a multistage, data-centric approach within a Python-based framework. We first performed Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) to uncover initial trends, pricing patterns, and anomalies in the provided sales and pricing data. Subsequently, we constructed Multiple Linear Regression models to control for key variables ,including distribution coverage, seasonality, and macroeconomic regimes , and to quantify the true effects of price on demand. Our approach successfully isolated pricing effects from other factors, yielding robust estimates of price elasticity, cross-elasticities with competitor products, and the influence of pack size and distribution on sales volumes
Feasibility Study: Escrow Banking in Pakistan
No full textThis Experiential Learning Project (ELP) examines the feasibility of the implemention of the Escrow Banking Services in Pakistan’s real estate sector which is a market known for its informal practices, the regulatory loopholes, and the frequent investor fraud. Escrow banking involves a neutral third-party financial institution which is responsible for holding transaction funds until the specific legal or contractual milestones are achieved, thereby ensuring the protection for both the buyers and the sellers.
The primary objective of this project is to assess whether the escrow mechanisms, as they are successfully implemented in countries such as the UAE, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, can be adapted and incorporated into Pakistan’s unique economic and legal context. The methodology includes the benchmarks of international practices, the analysis of Pakistan’s current institutional and legal infrastructure, conducting expert interviews, and the proposal of a phased implementation strategy.
The findings in the report indicate that while the escrow usage in Pakistan is currently limited and informal, there is still a substantial potential for the impact, especially in the high-risk real estate transactions. However, the key challenges include the absence of a centralized regulation, the lack of public awareness, the fragmented property laws, and a deeply entrenched informal economy.
The report also recommends a structured approach which includes drafting a dedicated Escrow Services Act, the establishment of a unified real estate authority, the integration of fintech platforms, and the creation of digital escrow solutions with Shariah-compliant options. A five-phase implementation roadmap is proposed to gradually build the infrastructure, the public trust, and the institutional capacity.
Aligned with the Investment Decision Making thought leadership area, this project also highlights how the escrow banking can improve the investor confidence, the promotion of transparency, and the contribution to formalizing a critical sector of Pakistan’s economy