PROF. DR. KHAWAJA AMJAD
SAEED, FCA, FCMA
Oct 25 - 31, 1999
In the past three Ms were very famous for successfully operating an
enterprise. These three Ms included Men, Material and Machine. However, with the passage
of time, as the organizations became more and more complex, businesses grew and faster
means of communication were innovated, the fourth M became very significant, namely,
"Management". The present day world saw several revolutions in the 20th Century.
The missing one so far has been Managerial Revolution. It is this revolution which is
going to usher in an era of great prosperity in the 21st Century. To unleash forces of
this revolution, fully trained manpower bejewelled with management oriented education and
backed up by Information System (IS) has been the crying need. In this background, this
piece briefly reviews various phases through which management education in Pakistan has
gone through and highlights the redeeming features of innovative approach being followed
by the Punjab Group of Colleges through their excellent contributions in the shape of the
two institutions, namely, Punjab College of Business Administration (PCBA) and the Punjab
Institute of Computer Science (PICS).
INRETROSPECT
When Pakistan was born in 1947, there was one Commerce College
throughout the country, namely, Hailey College of Commerce, a Constituent College of the
University of the Punjab, Lahore. It rendered very useful services in producing Commerce
Graduates who are still occupying high positions in all walks of life, both at home and
abroad, and are delivering the goods in a befitting manner.
However, in the year 1955 emphasis was directed towards
institutionalizing Business Administration Education in Pakistan in the University of
Karachi. Institute of Business Administration, Karachi University was the first
educational Institution set up in the Country. It rendered good services in producing
quality Business Administration graduates in Pakistan. Later in the year 1973, the
University of the Punjab set up an independent Department of Business Administration and
started offering MBA program. Subsequent to this several public universities liberally
moved into this venture and set up Business schools.
Allama Iqbal Open University also started offering courses in Business
Administration through Distance Learning Approach. In the year 1985, Lahore University of
Management Sciences made the first beginning of offering education in Business
Administration in the private sector with the Federal Charter. Later on a free for all
system started and business schools grew like a mushroom growth in every street/road in
all major cities of Pakistan. Their growth has been very fast and nobody knows the total
number of business schools in the Country.
Quite recently some Provincial Governments have started giving Charter
to few institutions with the Degree Awarding Status.
PCBA/PICS
Punjab College of Business Administration was started in 1991 under the
inspiring leadership of its Chairman, Mian Amer Mahmood. He had a vision of quality
business school in the private sector. Through a interface with some American
Universities, in particular with Arkansas State University, an excellent educational pack
for BBA and MBA was developed. It had three special areas of concentration namely,
Finance, Marketing and Management Information System. Solid foundation courses have been
offered with major thurst on Advance Courses in Management togetherwith some integrated
courses e.g. Strategy and Business Policy. So far more than 1200 students have gone
through the above programs and are rendering meritorious services at home and abroad. Some
enterprising graduates of PCBA have started their own Management Consulting Offices and
are contributing to national economy in an efficient manner - thereby considerably
enhancing productivity in Pakistan.
By the Grace of Allah, recognizing the glorious services rendered by
PCBA and PICS the Government of Punjab has given a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to The
Punjab College for a degree awarding status to operate the above two Institutions in the
areas of Business Administration and Computer Sciences.
At present, courses offered by PCBA include BBA, MBA (Morning Program)
and Executive MBA (Evening).
PICS was started in 1993. It is logistically well equipped with several
computer labs containing more than 150 PCs and other accessories. Magnificent quality
courses for BCS and MCS have been offered by PICS at Lahore and Islamabad. Highly
qualified staff holding Doctorates from USA and UK are conducting the teaching. PICS is
offering programs such as BCS and MCS.
The 21st Century will start after around two months. The foregoing two
Institutions are a positive response to the challenges which lie ahead in the next
Century. We are fully determined to serve the society by producing quality education.
Appropriate logistics exist in our set up and our forward march is confident to deliver
the goods in the service of the nation. Our faculty is substantially foreign qualified.
Our library and computer facilities are of first rate standard - second to none. Our class
rooms and computer facilities are the finest in the Country. Our administrative staff are
ever eager to serve the stakeholders. Those join us know the difference of the cutting
edge which we provide. Our mission to serve will continue with dedication and high sense
of commitment.
Dean: Executive Programs, Punjab College of Business Administration,
Lahore, Constituent College of The Punjab College, Chartered by the Government of Punjab
as degree awarding Institution.
