On August 8th, 2025, Habib University celebrated a landmark moment as it welcomed its largest incoming class to date: the Class of 2029, with a record number of fully funded scholars and the most generous undergraduate scholarship and financial aid awards in its history. The Welcome Evening marked the beginning of Zero Week, a signature orientation experience that reflects Habib’s commitment to holistic education and community building.
Students and their parents during the Meet and Greet in the Library Info Commons, getting to know all the learning support services designed to make the students’ undergraduate journey as fulfilling as possible.
As part of the evening’s festivities, students and their families participated in a meet-and-greet session, mingling with faculty, staff, and representatives from various academic programs and university offices. They explored Habib’s intellectual offerings, learned about majors and minors across disciplines, and engaged with resources such as career advising, writing support, and academic performance services.
President Wasif Rizvi acquainting the parents and students of the incoming class of 2029 to Habib University’s transformative education experience.
Presidential Address: Education as a Journey of Consciousness
President Rizvi, in his address to the Class of 2029 and their families, emphasized the profound responsibility of education in shaping consciousness. “You cannot overcome the crisis of consciousness without recovering the hearing, the sight, and the heart,” he shared, inviting students to embark on a journey that is not only intellectual but deeply human.
Dr. Shahid Sheikh, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the university’s commitment to community and continuity. “We welcome and host the families of our students twice, once today, at the welcoming ceremony, and again at convocation,” he said, underscoring the institution’s belief in education as a shared endeavor between students, families, and the university. He reminded them that their presence at Habib is the result of hard work and perseverance, and that they are part of a small and privileged group; only a few in Pakistan have access to such a high-caliber education.
Parents, students, faculty, as well as members of the Habib community in the H.M Habib Auditorium during the Welcome Ceremony.
Exclusive Session: President Rizvi chats with the Incoming Class of 2029
In an exclusive session with the incoming class, President Rizvi urged students to cultivate clarity, depth, and discernment: the hallmarks of a Habib education.
“Without writing well, you cannot make your way through the world,” he emphasized, introducing the CAC framework: Critical, Analytical, and Creative abilities. He encouraged students to engage with the curriculum, not merely react to it, and to develop both intellectual and quantitative skills to grow into thoughtful citizens.
“It is your responsibility to enrich this epistemic drive Habib has started. How good you are can determine how you will push back,” he added, challenging students to engage deeply with the world around them. Questions also explored his most challenging decisions in life to his inspirations.
Zara Imran (Communication and Design, Class of 2028) moderates the exclusive session with the President and the Class of 2029.
Parents as Partners: A Candid Conversation on Student Success
Simultaneously, the “Parents as Partners” session brought together university leadership, faculty from Dhanani School of Science and Engineering (DSSE) and School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS), and a current student’s parent in a candid panel moderated by Alizeh Bano Mazhar, Head of the Office of Academic Performance. Panelists included Dr. Aamir Hasan (Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering program), Yasmeen Bano (Vice President, Student Affairs), Inamullah Nadeem (Associate Professor of Practice in the Comparative Humanities Program), and Dr. Tasneem Anwar.
“Let your children make mistakes and learn from them,” advised Professor Nadeem, highlighting the unique pressures and possibilities of a Habib education. Parents participated with warmth and enthusiasm, exploring how to support their children’s journey with trust, patience, and encouragement.
Together, these parallel conversations set a thoughtful and celebratory tone for the Class of 2029 and their families, reaffirming Habib University’s mission to shape futures through transformative education.
Dr. Aamir Hasan, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Yasmeen Bano, Director, Student Affairs; Inamullah Nadeem, Associate Professor of Practice in the Comparative Humanities program; moderated by Alizeh Bano Mazhar, Head of Office of Academic Performance, with Dr Tasneem Anwar, a proud parent engaged in a captivating discussion in “Parents as Partners.”
