As the family of Syed Babar Ali prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday on June 7, 2026, it is not merely the milestone of a long life that we honour; it is the example of a life lived with purpose, humility, generosity, and grace.
PROFILE
As the family of Syed Babar Ali prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday on June 7, 2026, it is not merely the milestone of a long life that we honour; it is the example of a life lived with purpose, humility, generosity, and grace.
During my recent visit to Lahore, I had the privilege of meeting this extraordinary man, widely regarded as the doyen of Pakistan’s business community. Yet what struck me most was not the scale of his achievements, but the depth of his humanity.
The story of the family began in 1875, when his grandfather, Syed Wazir Ali, established a business serving the British Army in Ferozepur, then one of India's largest cantonments. His father, Syed Maratib Ali, and uncle, Syed Ahsan Ali, went on to build one of the largest operations connected to the Army Canteen Stores Department and warehousing network in the subcontinent.
After Partition, when Unilever sought to establish a manufacturing presence in the newly created Pakistan, the family once again played a pivotal role. Land owned by Syed Wazir Ali in Bahawalpur was sold to Lever Brothers, which became Sadiq Oil Mills, named after Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V Abbasi of Bahawalpur. In time, the company evolved into Lever Brothers Pakistan, and Syed Babar Ali himself served as a Director of Unilever Pakistan for more than half a century.
But business success alone does not define greatness. What truly distinguishes Syed Babar Ali is the way he transformed success into service.
His contributions to the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Aitchison College, and countless educational and social institutions have shaped generations of Pakistanis. Through his philanthropy, vision and leadership, he invested not merely in buildings, but in people, ideas and the future of a nation.
Yet even at 100, he speaks not of accomplishment, but of unfinished duty. When I asked him what he still wished to do more of, his response was immediate: “More social work. I have not done enough. There is still so much more to be done. What I have done is only a drop in the ocean”. Those are not the words of a man seeking recognition. They are the words of a man whose life has been anchored in service.
He then shared a story from a hospital stay in the US during knee replacement surgery several years ago. Each day, he noticed a well-dressed elderly gentleman quietly walking through the hospital corridors. Eventually, he discovered that the man was a retired doctor who came daily -- entirely without payment -- simply to help train and guide nurses.
Syed Babar Ali belongs to that rare class of individuals whose legacy cannot be measured merely in wealth or titles, but in lives transformed, minds educated and values preserved
That story clearly stayed with him because it reflected the values he himself lives by: dignity, usefulness and giving back without seeking applause. Then he said something I will never forget: “Money is what money does. The richest man is the one who dies poor”.
In a world increasingly driven by excess, his philosophy is refreshingly simple: consume less, live simply, and help others more. Despite his stature, he lives in an elegant yet modest Swedish-designed home that requires only one cook-bearer to maintain -- a quiet reflection of a man who believes simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. He also spoke of two kinds of unfortunate people: “Those who have learnt but never practised. And those who accumulate wealth but never spend it for others”.
Few men reach 100. Even fewer spend those years building institutions, uplifting others and inspiring generations with humility rather than power. Syed Babar Ali belongs to that rare class of individuals whose legacy cannot be measured merely in wealth or titles, but in lives transformed, minds educated and values preserved.
As he celebrates a century of life, we celebrate far more than longevity. We celebrate wisdom over arrogance, simplicity over excess, generosity over accumulation and service over self-interest. Sir, your life reminds us that true greatness is not found in what we keep for ourselves, but in what we give away to others. On your 100th birthday, may you know that your journey has inspired countless people across generations -- and that your graceful life of learning, humility, and service will continue to illuminate many more.
Before I left, he graciously gifted me a signed copy of his autobiography, 'Learning from Others'. How fitting that those three simple words capture the very philosophy by which he has lived his remarkable life. Happy 100th birthday, Syed Babar Ali. A century well lived!
The writer is a Malaysian master storyteller and former Unilever marketeer. He is currently the secretary-general of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA), and serves on the Global Board of the New York based International Advertising Association (IAA) as the Global VP for Continuous Professional Development.
