Forman participated in the LUMS Homes Fixtures 2024, a prestigious event featuring both men and women competing in eleven different sports, including basketball, table tennis, netball, and futsal. Forman received the “Best Delegation” Award and achieved remarkable success, placing first in cricket and volleyball and second in football. Additionally, Forman earned gold and silver medals in the athletics category for their outstanding performance in the 100-meter sprint.

FCCU’s male futsal team secured second place at the Lahore Youth Festival 2024 after a closely contested match that was decided by a penalty shootout. The event was hosted by Beaconhouse National University.

Congratulations are also in order for the Forman tennis team, which earned third place in the Inter-Collegiate Tennis Championships 2024 held at Government College Lahore.

The Forman Sports Department organized the FCCU Open Intramural Championships 2024, drawing over 300 participants competing in badminton, tennis, table tennis, and volleyball. Dr. Gloria Calib, Associate Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, served as Chief Guest for this week-long event, which showcased the exceptional sports talent within the Forman community.

In college sports, the Computer Coyotes Seniors triumphed over the Afternoon Senior Cubs in the FC College Intramural Cricket Championship 2024, organized by the College Health and Physical Education Department and featuring 16 teams. Dr. Lubna Amer, College Coordinator, honored the event as Chief Guest.

The 12th Inter School and Inter College Games, also known as the “Punjab Olympics,” were held during the first week of November, with participation from 1,100 schools and colleges across the province. A special shoutout to our College athletes for their impressive performance, finishing third in several events, including volleyball, lawn tennis, table tennis, and taekwondo, as reported by Babar Kamil from our Sports Department.

Forman College organized the 2024 Intramural Table Tennis Championships, featuring 16 teams. Chief Proctor Muhammad Umer Chaudhry served as Chief Guest for the event. The Medical Cougars emerged victorious, claiming the first-place trophy, while the Afternoon Senior Cubs secured second place.

The College also hosted the 2024 Intramural Badminton Championships, similarly involving 16 teams. Dr. Muhammad Umar Bhatti, Head of the Biology Department, served as Chief Guest and distributed awards. The Newton Titans took first place, with Velte Hall finishing in second.

Additionally, Forman College participated in the Legacy Edition Colosseum, sponsored by Beaconhouse, alongside 19 other colleges. The tournament showcased multiple sports, where our College athletes excelled, securing first place in basketball, volleyball, and soccer, as well as second place in badminton.

Many readers of the Rector’s Update will be familiar with the impact that Forman Coach Brian Furches is having on the development of baseball in Pakistan, including the construction of Pakistan’s first purpose-built university baseball field (informally referred to as “The Field of Dreams”) on the Forman campus. He has also played a key role in building strong relationships with the Baseball Federation of Pakistan. As a result of these efforts, Coach Brian was recently invited to attend the Middle East Classic Baseball Tournament in Dubai, featuring teams from both South Asia and the Middle East, where Pakistan placed first. Additionally, Coach Brian was asked to coach the Afghan National Baseball team, which traveled from Kabul to participate in the event.

Finally, although several sports events have taken place over the last few weeks, I would be remiss if I did not mention that some events had to be cancelled or postponed due to the toxic smog enveloping Lahore at this time of year. One such event is the Women’s Sports Fest 2024, which will hopefully be rescheduled for a later date.

This is from the monthly Rector’s Update.

Forman’s ongoing partnership with Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway focused on “Peace Journalism” continues to grow from strength to strength. In November, that partnership included a two-day conference to which journalists and journalism professors from each of Pakistan’s four provinces were invited. As Dr. Altaf Ullah Khan who plays a key role in this initiative in coordination with Forman’s Department of Mass Communication commented afterward, the event served as “a testament to the power of collaborative learning and the shared commitment of promoting peace through journalism.”

A special word of appreciation to Assistant Professor of Management Maryyam Khan for bringing Shark Tank Pakistan to Forman, providing an opportunity for serious discussions on entrepreneurship, financing, and other key business topics while also further strengthening ties to Pakistan’s business community. A number of other leading universities competed with Forman to conduct this event, making me especially proud that Forman was given the opportunity to host it.

Forman’s Management School organized a workshop on Systematic Literature Review for Management and Social Sciences. Designed to strengthen the research capacity of our faculty, the event provided hands-on experience in systematic literature review techniques and featured Dr. Waris Ali, who has written more than thirty research papers and has advanced degrees from Middlesex University (UK) and the University of Waterloo (Canada).

A special note of appreciation to Syed Jaffer Gardezi in Forman’s Education Department for his role in launching impactful community service projects for our Education students. This initiative involves underserved communities and focuses on health, hygiene, and environmental conservation while also emphasizing the importance of education. Activities include interactive workshops, providing a dynamic learning environment aimed at fostering both curiosity and engagement among children.

In addition, Forman’s Education Department partnered with Beaconhouse to form an Evaluation Committee for fifth and sixth-grade STEAM projects. Led by Forman’s Ammar Husnain Khan, our Education Department enlisted four senior students with STEM expertise to work with younger students to address global issues, with a particular emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

While many previously scheduled campus activities were impacted by the toxic smog hanging over Lahore in November, several programs successfully transitioned to an online format. Among these was the seminar on Sustainable Fashion and Resource Efficiency in the Textile Sector hosted by Forman’s Environmental Sciences Department. This event featured speakers Saqib Shahzad (Head of Sustainability at Sapphire-Diamond Fabrics) and Ms. Iqra Inam (Head of Sustainability at Sapphire Textile Mills, Ltd.), who discussed aligning their organizations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They also highlighted the evolving role of Pakistan’s textile industry in advancing environmental sustainability and achieving net-zero emissions.

Similarly, the seminar on Safeguarding the Future: Advances in Infection Control and Disease Prevention, organized by the Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)/Pakistan Chapter, with support from UNESCO, also shifted online. This ensured the event’s substance proceeded as planned, providing participants with valuable insights into innovations in infectious disease prevention and control.

Looking ahead, I am delighted that Forman will host the first day of the much-anticipated three-day conference on Christianity and Christians in Pakistan: History, Identity, and Social Role, starting on December 10. The subsequent two days will be held at Information Technology University (ITU). Dr. Yaqoob Bangash, a former Forman faculty member now teaching at ITU, has been instrumental in organizing this event in collaboration with Forman’s Department of Religious Studies.

Additionally, I am pleased to announce that Forman will host the Fourth International Conference on Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences in late January 2025. Abstracts and poster presentations are invited on various topics, including Nanomaterials, Polymer Chemistry, Pharmaceuticals, Food Chemistry, “Green” Chemistry, and Natural Products. Those interested in participating can contact kashifmasih@fccollege.edu.pk for further details.

This is from the monthly Rector’s Update.

DEAN’S NOTE

In times of great conflict, peace is often seen merely as an alternative to war, reducing it to a tool for conflict mitigation. This perspective undermines peace’s originality and proactive essence. Peace exists independently as a sociocultural force—stronger than conflict—built on human actions that create order, harmony, and the essence of life on Earth.

Global journalism, as an instrument of peace and a safeguard for journalists, operates on similar principles. It fosters cultural processes that promote stability, tolerance, and safety. While it includes conflict resolution, its scope extends to restoring balance and harmony in societies.

In the communication age, global journalism is a transformative force, capable of driving meaningful change. Our efforts focused on exploring its potential through a critical examination of theory and practice, assessing its pros and cons, and amplifying youth perspectives from diverse regions of Pakistan.

This initiative is one of many steps toward creating a better world for present and future generations. It is the effort that matters, and this was a significant step forward—one of many more to come.

Workshop Inaugural

The inaugural session was graced by Dr. Altaf Ullah Khan, Dean of Humanities at FCCU, who delivered a compelling welcome address. He emphasized the urgent need for objective reporting in conflict zones and the importance of integrating global perspectives into local journalism practices to foster peace.

The event brought together educators, journalists, and media professionals from across Pakistan, representing institutions in Lahore, Quetta, Karachi, Kohat, Bahawalpur, and Peshawar. This diverse assembly reflected a shared commitment to advancing peace journalism and equipping media practitioners with tools for resilience and ethical reporting in volatile environments.

The workshop, moderated by Dr. Syed Muhammad Saqib, Assistant Professor in FCCU’s Department of Mass Communication, promises to delve into critical themes such as journalist safety, global perspectives, and the ethical challenges of reporting in conflict zones. With thought-provoking sessions and collaborative discussions, the workshop marks a significa

The staff and board of directors of Friends of Forman are proud to announce the release of our 2023-24 annual report. This is a way to celebrate our collective impact, and transparently show how we’re being stewards of your generous gifts.

“There is much to celebrate this past year,” said Friends of Forman executive director, Rev. Dr. Roger Dermody. “The year ahead is filled with hope! Thank you for your partnership and trust. You are genuinely making God’s grace and love visible in Pakistan.”

The 12-page annual report showcases fundraising totals, expense categories, impact numbers, student stories, and information about Forman Christian College. The document records Friends of Forman’s fiscal year, which runs from July to June each year.

“Every time I share the story of Forman with people who have never heard of it, they are stunned,” said board chair, Rev. Dr. David Renwick. “I am fully committed to supporting Forman because I can think of no other institution that in a hundred ways embodies more effectively Jesus’ admonition to his followers in the Sermon on the Mount to be “salt and light.”

Here are just a few highlights included in the annual report.

Fundraising sources:

• Individuals: 58%
• Fundations: 20%
• Churches: 11%
• Investment income: 9%
• Organizations & businesses: 2%

Money given to:

• Scholarships: $788,967
• Campus Center & Library: $437,022
• Leadership & Faculty support: $244,271
• Pakistan Centre for Biblical Teaching & Research: $215,000
• Light of Hope: $177,704
• FCCU Endowments: $100,107
• Capital Projects: $56,675
• Total support: $2,049,946

FCCU Fast Facts

• University enrollment: 5,717
• Students on scholarship: 2,448 (27%)
• Women enrollment: 2,703 (47%)
• Scholarships to women: 832 (31%)
• Christians on scholarship: 911 (98%)

“When asked to join the board of Friends of Forman, it was clear the work aligned with my heart for educating persecuted women and concern for minority Christians,” said board vice chair, Heather Wright. “I am grateful for Charles Forman, whose actions provided generations, especially of minorities and women, hope and a future.”

Read the 2023-24 annual report for yourself here. Or visit the Our Impact page to view reports and audited financial statements from previous years. Thank you for your support of Friends of Forman, and we’re looking forward to even better success in the new year!

The Advancement and Alumni Office organized its annual ‘Corporate Connect‘ on November 07, 2024, in the atrium at the JTCC, bringing together senior leadership of FCCU, including Deans and Chiefs, top business leaders, diplomats, industry stalwarts and academia. Corporate leadership from a wide range of industries including banking, audit, technology, lubricants , telecom, paints, chemicals, textiles, healthcare, food and beverages, automobiles, professional groups and associations participated in this exclusive event. MCB, HBL (Habib Bank Limited), Bank Islami, Meezan Bank,MIB, Allied Bank, BDO, KPMG , Fergusson, Airlink Communications, AkzoNobel, Telenor Pakistan, Devsinc, ATS group, ZIC Oil (HI Tech Lubricants), Evercare Hospital, Jockey, Gourmet, Amanah Mall, Emkay Seeds, and Chiltan Group of Industries are some of the brands that were represented by their top management.

Distinguished diplomatic representatives, including the Chinese Consulate, represented by the Director and Vice Consul General, and Defence Attaché, the Hungarian Honorary Consul General and the Portuguese Honorary Consul General graced the occasion.

Mrs. Badia Raza, Chief Marketing and Outreach Officer, welcomed the guests and highlighted FCCU’s commitment to its seven core values. She explained the university’s outreach and commitment to make education accessible to all irrespective of financial background. In his keynote address, Dr. Jonathan S. Addelton, Rector, FCCU, discussed FCCU’s endeavors in promoting diversity, women empowerment and sustainability. He elaborated on the presence of students and faculty from different faiths, geographical and socio economic backgrounds and shared different efforts of the institution to improve and protect the environment. Dr. Rukhsana David, Chairperson of the FCCU Board of Governors and Board of Directors, appreciated the efforts of the university in the area of diversity and women empowerment and expressed her pleasure with the phenomenal growth and recognition of the institution. Ms. Jaweria Iqbal, Manager Corporate and Foundation Relations, outlined the FCCU’s Business Incubation Center facilities and functions — inviting the corporate sector to join hands in promoting young entrepreneurs and startups. Ms. Ayla Musharraf, daughter of the late General Pervez Musharraf (alumnus) was also present on the occasion and spoke briefly about her father’s Forman journey.

The event also fostered valuable collaboration between academia and industry, with participants exploring opportunities to connect, share ideas, and support entrepreneurial ventures at BIC FCCU. During the networking session, attendees were given a guided tour of the BIC, experiencing firsthand the resources available to nurture the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Corporate Connect 2024 was not only a platform for networking but also a reflection of Forman’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Thanks to Sarah Suleman (Head of Quality Enhancement Cell) and her colleague Christopher Naeem (Data Analyst), the Fall 2024 Profile for Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) is now available, based on a September 30 “freeze date” which captured the number of faculty employed and students enrolled as of that date.

According to the demographic data provided in the Profile, 48 percent of our university students are female (for graduate programs, the percentage increases to 74 percent). Some 10 percent of our college students and 13 percent of our university students are from Pakistan’s minority Christian community, bringing the total number to 1,093 including 350 from the college and 743 enrolled in the university. Although small as a total percentage, 59 of our university students also come from the Hindu, Sikh or Kalash communities, further highlighting the diversity of our institution. While an overwhelming majority of our students are from Punjab, we have representation from each of Pakistan’s other provinces as well.

The figures are encouraging: Total enrollment at FCCU has now reached 9,324, exceeding 9,000 for the first time ever; of that number, 3,560 are studying at the Intermediate (College) level while 5,764 are enrolled in the University.

The number of faculty at Forman is slightly more than 400, with 126 teaching at the College level and 278 at the University level. Of the 404 members of faculty currently employed at Forman, 43 percent are female, and 57 percent are male. As regards to level of education, 172 of our 278 University faculty have PhDs, 69 of them from foreign countries. A further 21 of our college faculty also have PhDs.

On September 26th, 2024, the Department of Physics at FCCU organized a highly anticipated visit to SUPARCO, Pakistan’s space agency in Lahore. Around 40 students and faculty members took part in this exclusive opportunity.

The visit commenced with an engaging overview of SUPARCO, where students were introduced to the agency’s role in advancing Pakistan’s space program. The session highlighted exciting internship and project collaboration opportunities, offering insights into how aspiring physicists and engineers could launch their careers in space technology. Comprehensive instructions on pursuing a career at SUPARCO were provided, underscoring the agency’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of space experts.

A tour of SUPARCO’s various departments followed, where students gained valuable knowledge about the projects currently underway. This included a rundown of the launch of eight satellites to date, with some still in orbit. Students were captivated as they learned about the crucial functions these satellites perform, including data collection and satellite management from control rooms.

The highlight of the visit was the rare opportunity to witness satellites up close—an unforgettable experience. Walking through the satellite manufacturing facility, students were briefed by SUPARCO engineers on the intricate processes involved in designing, constructing, and launching these advanced technologies. Standing in the very room where satellites are manufactured provided an awe-inspiring glimpse into the cutting-edge field of space exploration.

The visit had a lasting impact, giving students a clear understanding of Pakistan’s space advancements and SUPARCO’s global role. Many left inspired to pursue space science, with some considering careers at SUPARCO. It also strengthened ties between SUPARCO and academia, paving the way for future collaborations. The hands-on experience, from satellite operations to direct interaction with engineers, highlighted Pakistan’s impressive space capabilities.

Student athletics is an important part of campus life at Forman Christian College. FCCU’s campus boasts a range of modern athletic facilities and fields, which allow students to participate in the sports of their choice.

A few student athletes’ achievements have earned them accolades and awards that the entire student body can be proud of. These competitors represent FCCU in several sports and tournaments throughout the year.

Cricket: Abraham

A business studies major, Abraham has represented the FCCU cricket team in two national HEC inter-varsity cricket tournaments and the FCCU athletics team in three annual athletics inter-varsity championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023. 

Throughout his four years at university, he has been an integral part of the cricket team, contributing to numerous inter-varsity championship victories for FCCU. His most significant achievement at FCCU was serving as the President of the Forman Sports Society during the tenure of 2023-24. Through this role, he developed crucial leadership and managerial skills.

Boxing: Adeen

As a boxer, Adeen has represented FCCU at many levels, including the 2024 Higher Education Commission (HEC) games. She is the recipient of a scholarship that adds an incentive to her hard work while studying psychology at Forman. Adeen greatly appreciates how FCCU always supports athletes like her.

Weightlifter: Eeman

Eeman’s success in receiving the Higher Education Commission (HEC) silver medal in 2024 as a weightlifter. Her athletic career has been shaped by unwavering commitment, countless training hours, and the invaluable support of mentors at FCCU. She is currently majoring in psychology and mass communications.

Swimming: Eesha

As a member of the FCCU swimming team, Eesha has showcased her talent in various prestigious events, including inter-university and inter-school competitions, securing several medals. In 2023, this applied psychology major won two gold, four silver, and three bronze medals.

Weightlifting: Wafia

Wafia is a key member of FCCU’s female weightlifting team and holds National Medalist and University Champion titles. An applied psychology major, she has secured gold and silver medals in inter-university championships and a bronze medal in nationals. 

She is also a recipient a scholarship at FCCU, which has played a pivotal role in balancing her academic and athletic pursuits.

Read About More High Achieving Formanites

Athletics is just one field where FCCU students are achieving. Other students stand out with their academics, research, writing, entrepreneurship, and more. 

To read more of these amazing student success stories, check out this year’s Formanite Achievers booklet created by FCCU’s marketing and outreach office.

Mr. Attiazaz “Bob” Din is the Founder and Chairman of Khazana Enterprise, Pakistan’s first hyperscale  FinTech Cloud service provider, contributing significantly to the country’s tech sector transformation and  leadership in digital transformation and AI. 

He commenced his academic journey at Forman Christian College, followed by pursuing Bachelor’s  and Master’s degrees in the United States. In 1993, he founded En Pointe Technologies, achieving  substantial growth to an annual revenue of $700 million. His achievement as one of the few Pakistani  Americans to secure a Nasdaq listing in 1996 elevated him to the ranks of the world’s elite 3000 CEO  of American listed companies, and made him one of the handful foreign born CEOs of Nasdaq listed  companies.  

Recognized as a leading entrepreneur by Ernst & Young in the United States and acknowledged in  Forbes for his contributions to job creation in California, Mr. Din has demonstrated continuous  commitment to Development in Literacy (DIL) since 1996, establishing numerous schools in Pakistan,  particularly for girls. He has generously donated cloud services to FCCU.  

In 1997, Mr. Din established Pakistan’s inaugural International Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)  center. He served on the board of the California Republic Bank for a decade and dedicated eighteen  years to the Los Angeles County Sheriff Advisory Council, including a three-year tenure as the  Chairman. Additionally, he served as the President of the Council of Pakistan American Affairs for four  years. 

Success magazine ranked Mr. Din as the #1 entrepreneur in 2000. In 2009, he founded dinCloud,  recognized as a top-five Gartner Magic Quadrant Cloud service provider for hosted desktops (DAAS).  He led Collab9 to secure the first-ever FedRAMP certification for UCaaS in 2010, significantly  enhancing government operations and security through technology. 

Through his initiatives, Mr. Din has facilitated over $100 million worth of IT services export from Pakistan  to the US, fostering the creation of several thousand jobs. His investments via Foreign Direct Investment  (FDI) have amounted to billions of rupees in tech startups.

Despite the lingering hot weather and humidity, the early Fall is a great time of year as we welcome a new class of incoming students, both to the college and the university. The number of applicants for some departments is reaching record levels, with some fields such as Computer Science, Business and Mass Communication proving to be especially popular. At the graduate level, Psychology and English have also attracted a lot of applications, making admissions in those areas even more competitive than usual.

More problematically, the Fall semester also highlights the reality that the demand for hostel space at Forman exceeds supply, a long term problem that will take time to resolve. That said, I am pleased to report that a newly renovated hostel with 85 beds on the nearby TSA/FCCU campus is opening this Fall, providing additional hostel space for female university students. Combined with a smaller hostel for female graduate students that opened its doors last year, we now have an additional 100 hostel beds available on the TSA/FCCU campus for female students. And, like our main campus, the TSA/FCCU facility is a very attractive “garden campus” with lots of green space.

Our entering classes are also as diverse as ever, including representation from many communities across the country. This year, that diversity also includes three new college students from Afghanistan and several Bachelor students from the remote Kalash valley in Chitral. In terms of numbers, the entering intermediate class exceeds 2,000 while the entering Bachelor’s class exceeds 1,000.

A summer academic enrichment program providing pre-test coaching for aspiring university students organized by our Financial Aid Office headed by Phool Shahzad has also worked hard to maintain and expand the diverse community that is so much a part of the Forman experience. This year, that program included male and female students from a wide range of areas, from the deserts of Tharparkar in the far south of Pakistan to Chitral in the far north.

This outreach program was especially intriguing and involved support from many directions including students and faculty from Chitral, Gilgit and Baltistan who reached out to members of the Kalash community in amazing ways, inviting students from that area to the Forman campus. Once on campus, a number of people including Ayesha Anwar (Guardian) and Rimesha Farooq (Assistant Guardian) along with Eileen Dass and Sheeza James from the Rector’s Office did their best to welcome the students and make them comfortable. Dr. Shahid from the Mass Communication Department who is from the Northern Areas also did much to facilitiate this program and make it possible.

I appreciated the opportunity to meet three visiting officials from the Quetta-based Balochistan Education Endowment Fund (BEEF) which provides scholarships for students from Balochistan to attend Forman. Last year, two dozen of our students from Balochistan received BEEF scholarships; this year the number is expected to increase to more than thirty.

We received welcome news from the Higher Education Commission’s Quality Assurance Agency that the provisional score of Forman’s Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) has increased from 38.16 during 2018-2019 to 75.80 during 2022-2023. This is a major accomplishment, thanks largely to the leadership, dedication and work of Sarah Suleman and her QEC team.

Thanks to our Advancement and Alumni Office for hosting another in the continuing series of “Formanite Talkies,” this one held on August 8 and focused on Forman graduates working in the media. Several graduates cited specific members of Forman’s faculty including Dean of Humanities Dr. Altaf Ullah Khan and Mass Communication Chairperson Dr. Firasat Jabeen for playing an important role in shaping their careers. Given that my first degree was from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, I especially appreciated this opportunity to learn more about what our graduates are doing in this vital area.

The late summer monsoons brought flooding to Lahore including to our campus, briefly turning Main Field into a small lake that attracted many water birds seeking relief from the summer heat and prompting a visit by the Director of WASA to explore potential ways to mitigate water accumulation during the monsoon season. Against that backdrop, the seminar hosted by Forman on August 23 titled “Climate Change, Mega Cities and Urban Floods” seemed especially timely.

Dr. Vaqas and his team at Forman’s Population Research Center (PRC) played an essential role in organizing this event which also involved several external partners including the UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), the latter represented by Abid Qaiyum Suleri who introduced himself as an Old Formanite; other attendees included Punjab Provincial Assembly Member Ahmed Iqbal. The importance of data and information emerged as a recurring theme throughout the seminar, along with a recognition that policy frameworks are vital and all sections of society need to become involved.