Founding Chancellor Habib University and Business Tycoon Rafiq M. Habib Passes Away

On Wednesday, Habib University confirmed the demise of business tycoon and the founding chancellor of Habib University, Rafiq M. Habib.

Golden era of Rafiq M.Habib comes to an end:

Rafiq M. Habib was the founding chancellor of the Habib University Foundation. He was also one of the Board of Directors of the Stile company and the former head of the House of Habib conglomerate. 

In a post on Instagram, Habib University confirmed the demise of the great legend. The post read, “With profound sorrow, Habib University mourns the passing of its founding chancellor, Rafiq M. Habib (1937-2025), and honours his enduring legacy.”

The varsity, while remembering him, said, “A man whose calm resolve and deep integrity shaped every step of this journey, Rafiq Sahab was the moral and visionary force behind the creation of Habib University. His belief that education must serve the greater good continues to guide our mission. His legacy lives on in the institution he helped build and the generations it will continue to empower.”

Rafiq was undoubtedly a great person who had worked and devoted his life to the welfare of the people. The Habib University official website wrote about him, “a trustee of several welfare projects that cover a wide range of activities, including education, healthcare, relief and rehabilitation”.

Being the Board of Directors, Rafiq worked for the betterment of the people. He has worked so hard that people near him have always found him the most genuine, real, and compassionate person. Stile stated, “Several welfare institutions covering a wide range of social activities, education being the prime focus, where the family runs its own schools and supports other schools presently imparting high-quality primary education to over 8,000 children.”

Rafiq was a business tycoon. He has an extraordinary business mindset that sets him apart from the rest. He had a wide business experience in the insurance and banking industry. Moreover, he has also promoted many businesses, including Indus Motor Company Limited. 

The Indus Motor Company Limited stated, “He is a Rotarian, an effective major donor, supports the Polio Plus programme and actively promotes street schools, home schools, etc.”

Rafiq has also served on the Board of Directors of Philips Electrical Company of Pakistan Ltd for many years. The President of Habib University called Rafiq “a towering figure of vision, humility, and steadfast service, whose leadership and generosity laid the very foundations.”

In a statement, he said, “Rafiq sahib was the visionary in the legendary Habib family to imagine a world-class institution of higher learning being founded in Karachi. His generosity was never about recognition; it was an act of devotion to knowledge, to service, and to the belief that education is the noblest inheritance one can give to society.”