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Iqbal Zafaruddin Ahmed or Iqbal Z. Ahmed (born 3 February 1946) is a businessman and philanthropist of Pakistan.
Born in Patna, India, Ahmed is the son of Zohra (died 1979) and Z. Z. Ahmed (1910–1989), a former deputy inspector general of Pakistan Police. He was schooled at Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur, and Aitchison College, Lahore. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from Government College, Lahore, and a master's degree in economics from Punjab University, Lahore.
Associated Group (AG) was cofounded by Ahmed and his father in 1965. Today, AG is among Pakistan's largest producers, transporters and marketers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the private sector. Its companies include Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited, Pakistan GasPort Consortium Limited, Lub Gas, Mehran LPG, AG Publications, and Associated Estate Developers (AEDL). AG has its headquarters at Lahore and offices in Islamabad and Karachi. AG's philanthropic efforts are directed through the Zohra and Z. Z. Ahmed Foundation. AG chairman Ahmed is also the Publisher and chairman of the board of Newsweek Pakistan .
In 2024, the Sindh High Court returned to Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a corruption reference filed against Ahmed and his sons owing to lack of jurisdiction, bringing to a close a case pending since 2019. [1]
The same year, in his capacity as JJVL chairman, Ahmed urged the Government of Pakistan to deregulate the base-stock price of local Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or imported LPG in a new proposed LPG Policy to allow market forces to determine pricing. [2]
On February 23, 2024, Ahmed was among the speakers who addressed the opening ceremony of the Lahore Literary Festival (LLF), a not-for-profit annual event whose body he serves as chairman. [3]
Self-made businessman Ahmed, who started in business at the age of 16, has been featured in Newsweek International and Forbes , Bloomberg TV, Reuters, CNBC [4] and profiled on CNBC Pakistan.
The state of Oklahoma declared 21 April 2009, as "Iqbal Z. Ahmed Day" to commemorate, according to the proclamation issued by Governor Brad Henry, "Mr. Ahmed's efforts to bring stability to the region and improve relations between Pakistan and the United States includ[ing] his support for President Obama's plan to add economic support to previously provided military support, shifting the priority for America's investment in Pakistan's stability; and ... Mr. Ahmed's efforts to champion peace and stability in Pakistan and the region; improve relations between Pakistan and the United States; provide power to underserved areas of his country; and forge a mutually beneficial partnership between Pakistan and Oklahoma businesses [a]s a positive example for everyone".
JJVL, Pakistan's single largest producer of LPG which represents post-9/11 foreign direct investment, has been recognised by its peers in the global energy world becoming a finalist six times, four years in a row, at the Platts Global Energy Awards held annually in New York.
Newsweek Pakistan and Ahmed hosted an exclusive event for Dr Abdullah Gul, President of the Republic of Turkey, at Lahore on 2 April 2010.
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on 14 September 2012, awarded Ahmed the President of Pakistan trophy for his contribution to Pakistan's economy.
Ahmed is the chairperson of Lahore Literary Festival Society, president of Government College University's (GCU) Endowment Trust Fund, member of the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Foundation, chairman of the Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), president of King Edward Medical University's (KEMU) Mobilization Fund, and a trustee of National College of Arts' (NCA) Endowment Board. He has also served on the board of the Punjab Red Crescent Society, and is a member of the American Business Forum (ABF). Ahmed is also the elected chairman of the LPG Association of Pakistan (LPGAP). He has previously served as the president of the India-Pakistan World Punjabi Organization.
In his individual capacity and through his foundation, the Zohra and Z.Z. Ahmed Foundation, Ahmed has undertaken philanthropy worth over $1.5 million. Spanning an array of fields from education to healthcare to community empowerment, and the arts, the Zohra and Z.Z. Ahmed Foundation was recognized for its charity outlay in 2012 by the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy as one of the top 10 institutions in Pakistan.
Over the years, he has served as patron of the Government College University; National College of Arts; Beaconhouse National University; LABARD; Edhi Foundation; and the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. In 2024, he was re-appointed President of the Executive Committee of the Endowment Fund Trust of Government College University for a two-year term, having previously served in the same position from 2005-2022, and raising over Rs. 500 million for the Trust. [5]
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was a Pakistani poet and author of Punjabi and Urdu literature. Faiz was one of the most celebrated, popular, and influential Urdu writers of his time, and his works and ideas remain widely influential today in Pakistan and beyond. Outside of literature, he has been described as "a man of wide experience", having worked as a teacher, military officer, journalist, trade unionist, and broadcaster.
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) (Urdu: جامعۂ لاہور برائے علومِ انتظامیات) is a Social Enterprise & Research university, located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
The Government College University is a public research university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. GCU is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in Pakistan. Founded as Government College, Lahore, in 1864 under British administration, it became a university in 2002.
The Pakistani philosophy is the philosophical activity or the philosophical academic output both within Pakistan and abroad. It encompasses the history of philosophy in the state of Pakistan, and its relations with nature, science, logic, culture, religion, and politics since its establishment on August 1947.
The University of the Punjab, also referred to as Punjab University, is a public research university located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the oldest and largest public sector university in Pakistan.
Ashfaq Ahmed was a Pakistani writer, playwright and broadcaster. His works in Urdu included novels, short stories and plays for television and radio of Pakistan. He received the President's Pride of Performance and Sitara-i-Imtiaz awards for his everlasting services in the field of broadcasting and literary heritage of Pakistan.
Forman Christian College is a private nonprofit liberal arts university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was founded in 1864 and is administered by the Presbyterian Church. The university follows an American-style curriculum.
Bano Qudsia, also known as Bano Aapa, was a Pakistani novelist, playwright and spiritualist. She wrote literature in Urdu, producing novels, dramas plays and short stories. Qudsia is best recognized for her novel Raja Gidh. Qudsia also wrote for television and stage in both Urdu and Punjabi languages. Her play Aadhi Baat has been called "a classic play". Bano Qudsia died in Lahore on 4 February 2017.
Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, was a 20th-century poet. His pen name was Tabassum.
Ghulam Murtaza, SI, FPAS, is a Pakistani theoretical physicist with a specialization in the physics of ionized plasmas, and is an Emeritus Professor of physics at the Government College University in Lahore. Murtaza's work is recognizable in plasma physics and controlled nuclear fusion processes to provide a better understanding of energy propagated by the main-sequence star, the Sun.
Associated Group (AG) was founded in 1965 by Iqbal Z. Ahmed and his father Z. Z. Ahmed (1910-1989), a former Deputy Inspector General of Pakistan Police. Today, AG is one of Pakistan's leading business houses in the energy sector. AG is Pakistan's largest producer, transporter and marketer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). AG is also in the power generation, design and conservation, aviation, and media sectors.
Newsweek Pakistan is published by AG Publications, a company wholly owned by Associated Group (AG), under license from Newsweek LLC. The licensing agreement with AG Publications follows similar publishing alliances for Newsweek editions. Newsweek's Asia Pacific edition, published in Hong Kong, has been available in Pakistan for over 50 years. Newsweek Pakistan replaced the Asia Pacific edition, and carries reportage, analysis and opinion on Pakistan in addition to the content featured in the international edition. The Pakistan edition draws upon both its own editorial staff and Newsweek's international network of correspondents.
The Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (AS-SMS), is an autonomous institute affiliated with the Government College University Lahore, Pakistan. The school is named after the theoretical physicist and Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam.
Amjad Parvez was a Pakistani engineer, writer, and singer.
The Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) is an international literary festival held annually in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The festival is considered to be one of South Asia's premier cultural events.
Nigar Ahmed was a Pakistani women’s rights activist who founded the Women’s Action Forum and Aurat Foundation. She died aged 72.
Sikandar Sultan Raja is a retired Pakistani civil servant who has been the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan since January 2020. Raja belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and is batchmates with Rizwan Ahmed, Hussain Asghar, Fawad Hasan Fawad and Jawad Rafique Malik.
Khalid Manzoor Butt is a Lahore-based professor and researcher of political science and Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) in University of Central Punjab (UCP), Lahore and former Head, Department of Political Science Government College University Lahore (GCU). He was born, grew up and studied in Lahore.
Laeeq Ahmed Khan was a Pakistani commentator, broadcaster, educationist, and radio and television presenter. He hosted television programmes broadcast by PTV such as 1970 general election and launch of Rehbar-I. Primary known for his role in science magazine shows and education, he also organised a talk show during 1974 Islamic Summit Conference.
