From Shamim Ahmed
Rizvi, Islamabad
Oct 25 - 31, 1999
Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) which was established in 1985 by an
enterprising young man has achieved remarkable success during the last 14 years. Starting
with a Commerce College, PGC, today is the largest integrated educational set up in Four
disciplines namely, Business Administration, Commerce, Computer Science and Law in
Pakistan, with over 17,000 students presently cnrolled against about 10,000 enrolled with
the University of the Punjab, Lahore — the oldest University of the country.
The Punjab Group of Colleges was founded by Mian Amer Mahmood, a young
MBA from the University of the Punjab. Hailing from a leading business family of Lahore,
Mian Amer Mahmood, as a student in Hailey College of Commerce did not feel satisfied with
the quality of education in the Public University institutions decided to set up model
institutions with all necessary facilities for imparting quality education at an
affordable cost.
Mian Amer Mahmood who is now the Chairman of Punjab Group of Colleges
formed a Society known as The Islamic Commerce Educational Society Registered (ICES),
Lahore. This is a non-profit organization committed to providing excellence in education.
The ICES established its first institution by the name of Punjab College of Commerce in
1985. Close on its heels, the Suffa Foundation Trust, a sister concern of ICES established
Punjab Law College in 1987. The Society further expanded its educational facilities by
establishing the Punjab College of Business Administration (PCBA) in 1991 and Punjab
Institute of Computer Science (PICS) in 1993. Though very young, PICS is very well
equipped to meet the need of the day. Affiliated with the University of the Punjab for its
BCS Programme, it enjoys the reputes as one of "The Best" institutions in the
country.
This correspondent, who visited the Punjab College of Business
Administration (PCBA) set up in an impressive building in a posh sector of Gulberg Lahore
saw the latest technical equipment, Computer and Library facilities and did not find it in
any way inferior to LUMS which I had visited last year. The cost of education or the fee
structure is less than one third in this institution as compared to LUMS. Similarly the
Punjab Institute of Computer Science (PICS) established in 1993 is amongst the best in the
country. Almost all the teachers in these two facilities are foreign qualified and over
half of them are Ph. Ds. The Group has established Mohammad Ali Jinnah University
(chartered as a degree awarding status), at Karachi where American patterned education in
the fields of Business Administration and Computer Science is being offered. PGC is in the
process of obtaining a Charter from the Government of Balochistan for setting up a private
University in Balochistan. The constituent Colleges of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University in
Islamabad are operating in the service of educating the youth of Pakistan in the
field-oriented education in Business Administration and Computer Science.
A network of Commerce Colleges in the major cities of Punjab is serving
the community in a commendable manner and the students of these colleges in Public
examinations have been bagging the top positions.
The institution has recently introduced a new product, Executive MBA
(Evening Program). Lot of time was invested in developing the course package. Market needs
were carefully studied and consultations were held with potential employers and serving
executives. A great need was felt to offer an innovative Executive MBA package which will
enhance the frontiers of knowledge, sharpen the skills and help develop forward looking,
positive and constructive attitudes of serving executives. This programme has been
launched under the umbrella of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University in three cities, Karachi,
Islamabad and Lahore. Degree for Executive MBA Program will be conferred upon successful
participants by Mohammad Ali Jinnah University at Karachi, Islamabad, and by its
constituent College, namely Punjab College of Business Administration under Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) at Lahore for full transfer of credits.
A well known teacher, writer and one of the pioneers of business
education in Pakistan, Dr. Khawaja Amjad Saeed, former Pro Vice-Chancellor, and founder
Director of the Institute of Business Administration, University of the Punjab, Lahore, is
the Dean of the Executive Programs.
Young Mian Amer Mamhood (39), highly enterprising and hardworking
Chairman of the Punjab Group of Colleges, in an exclusive interview in his tastefully
decorated office in the Lahore Campus, told this correspondent that he had undertaken this
noble venture with a missionary zeal to serve his community by imparting quality education
to the younger generation belonging to families of modest means.
Mian Amer Mahmood said he strongly believed that education provided by
the government institutions did not meet the ever changing demands of modern and the
latest computer technology. Initiative has been taken by our group to fill up this gap.
With our vision set on providing quality computer education, coupled with a reasonable
dosage of foreign exposure to hard working and promising young knowledge seekers of
Pakistan, we have formally signed agreements of collaborations with the Asian Institute of
Technology (AIT), Thailand, Arkansas State University (ASU) USA, New Mexico State
University (NMSU) in USA, Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration,
Finland, Florida Atlantic University, USA, Richmond College, London, and La Trobe
University, Australia. Money making has never been our objective. He further stated that
we were always in search of the best teachers to hire them at whatever price available. He
claimed that a highly motivated and internationally qualified faculty with field
orientation was conducting the programme. Besides full-time faculty, visiting professors
from business and industry were updating the participants of the
programme.
"Our camuses are well-equipped with modern amenities of education.
Our libraries are well stocked with modern books and current magazines. We offer
first-rate computing facilities, cafeterias, bookshops, auditoriums and other related
facilities".
Total fee payable for the full Executive MBA program is Rs. 120,000
including Admission fee Rs. 10,000 which is payable once. Total fee for the first semester
is Rs. 32,000 and for each subsequent semester is Rs. 22,000. The duration of the
programme is approximately 20 months from the date of commencement of classes. Except for
African Continent, our collaborations exist in all continents of the world (USA, Asia,
Europe and Oceania) for transfer of credit.
Similarly for B. Com. /I.Com and Law Colleges fee is Rs. 12,000/- per
year while Hailey College of Commerce is charging Rs. 36,000 per year from their students
under self-financing scheme.
Our mission is to serve the nation specially the younger generation and
ensure that no talented student is deprived of the best education because of financial
difficulties. We have made an open offer to all students who secure 75 percent marks in
the qualifying examinations and get admission in any of our institutions and continue
their education free of any cost. For instance any student securing 75 percent or above
marks in their BA Examination can do their MBA or M.Sc, in Computer Science free of any
charge. For their further encouragement we have announced cash rewards and cars for the
student securing first position in our graduate and post graduate examinations and Rs.
50,000 for the B.Com. etc., Mian Amer Mahmood added. All in all, Punjab Group of Colleges
in general and Punjab colleges of Business Administration (PCBA) and Punjab Institute of
Computer Science (PICS) in particular are rendering excellent services for producing
quality manpower which is their response to the challenges of 21st Century.
