On 27th September 2024, an inspiring educational event took place at Amaanibagh, Angoori, in Islamabad, where prominent figures from both the public and private sectors gathered to discuss educational development and equality. The event was organized by Ikram Sehgal, Co-Chairman of Pathfinder Group on behalf of Amaani Sehgal, founder of Providentia Books Foundation. Special guest of honor was Dr Faisal Mushtaq TI, Chairman and CEO of Roots Millennium Education Group, who attended with a delegation of students and faculty. The primary focus was to engage students from Roots Millennium, offering them a platform to share their experiences and contributions to initiatives that support underprivileged children’s education. An entertaining and engaging movie was shown to the audience. This event sparked a wave of enthusiasm among students, encouraging them to donate books, volunteer their time, and actively contribute to their community. Raheela Baqai moderated the interactive session and Faisal Mushtaq and Ikram Sehgal addressed the audience:
Dr Faisal Mushtaq – TI Founder & CEO, Roots Millennium Education Group
On behalf of our teaching and learning community, our Board of Governors, our faculty, students and staff, we would like to thank Co-Chairman Ikram Sehgal, Ms Raheela Baqai, Gen (Rtd) Shakeel Hussain and all colleagues from the Pathfinder Group. Students and friends here, trust me, if passion or patriotism or pluralism has a name, it is Ikram Sehgal.
Students, today you are meeting a living legend, a national icon, a war veteran, a hero, and a person who has transcended Pakistan’s business community irrespective of holding a public office. He has proven that you don’t need to be a parliamentarian or legislator to make a difference. With his capacity, profile, and contribution to Industry and society, he has created a narrative for Pakistan where he represents the country through his platform around the world, and that includes even the World Economic Forum. When I was young, I read a quote in a book, “We live on a planet, and while we all want to work for a profit, it is essential that our profits also benefit society.” Remember, you’re all people, also our parents, they are people. We live on a planet and we all do want to work for a profit but when you make a profit and the society also profits then that is the net game.
This beautiful retreat called, The Providentia Books, is Ikram Sehgal’s gift and his love for his granddaughters. What a legendary gift it is to a young grandchild, people think of giving a car, a house, or a precious material but only a legend could think of a gift like this. It is not for his granddaughter only but for all children out there. Founded by Amaani, the granddaughter of Ikram Sehgal, is dedicated to fostering a love for reading and learning among children in need. This platform facilitates book donors, individuals with spare books eager to contribute to the community, and those deserving people with a thirst for knowledge to request books and educational material on this platform.
Ikram Sehgal believes that whatever we do, we must keep giving back. He believes in the young people of Pakistan. 70% of the country is under the age of 30. We have the highest number of children out of school (28 million). Mandatory and compulsory education in our country is lowest and the quality of it is minimal. The state has failed to provide basic amenities like health and education, this is why your parents and families need to pay for your private tuition. We have to cover the costs of private airlines and private security guards. However, when 2.5 crore children are out of school, we cannot hope to become a modern, progressive, inclusive, responsible, and just nation.
Initiatives like Providentia Books are not only vital for supporting the underprivileged but also serve as a significant boost to the nation’s morale. Mr. Ikram Sehgal has been instrumental in driving this effort forward. His granddaughter, Amaani, though living in one of the most privileged parts of the world, exemplifies passion, resilience, and commitment to giving back to her roots. This reflects a deep understanding of the art of giving back—a rare quality in today’s world. Instead of asking her grandfather for a luxury trip or an extravagant yacht, she demonstrated her selflessness by asking for support for Providentia Books.
This initiative represents a social impact project designed to make a meaningful difference, and Amaani’s active involvement is a testament to her dedication to humanitarian causes. She has also volunteered to work with The Citizen Foundation (TCF) Schools, an organization widely recognized for establishing schools for underprivileged children. TCF is a premier institution in Pakistan, acknowledged globally for its contribution to providing quality education to children from marginalized communities. Amaani’s involvement in both Providentia Books and TCF highlights her commitment to nurturing educational empowerment and making a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most. Her story serves as an inspiring example of how young individuals can contribute to social change, leading by example and creating pathways for future generations.
Reading is a very rare habit in our society nowadays. If you want to feel a book you must read a real book, e-books are important if you are digitally inclusive but physical books are also important. Supporting the Providentia Book initiative is a must for all of us. Students, you must involve yourself in this opportunity, by donating books to the underprivileged, and to those who need them the most. This is how you can give back to the society. This would also look very good on your career profiles when you apply for universities abroad in Canada, Australia, the UK, and the USA.
Ikram Sehgal has always gone above and beyond, not just for us, but for governments, Prime Ministers, Heads of State, Parliamentarians, and countless individuals. His unwavering commitment to service and generosity has impacted so many lives, teaching us all a valuable lesson—that one can be an individual contributor to society without holding public office or an official title. Mr. Sehgal embodies the spirit of giving, selflessly offering his time, wisdom, and resources to causes that uplift communities and nations alike. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Sehgal for his warm hospitality and for providing us with this incredible opportunity. His openheartedness and leadership have created countless growth opportunities, and his dedication serves as an inspiration to everyone fortunate enough to work with him. His kindness and example continue to remind us that the true measure of influence lies in the impact we make on others, and for that, we sincerely thank him.
Ikram Sehgal Co-Chairman, Pathfinder Group
Respected Guests, Faisal Mushtaq, Gen (Rtd) Shakeel, Brig (Rtd) Kayani, Faculty, Staff, and students of Roots Millennium School. It’s a great matter of pride and honor that this auditorium is having its very first event with such an energetic audience. Allow me to introduce you to AMAANIBAGH, a place named after my first granddaughter, Amaani. She resides in New York and is currently in the process of applying to colleges, holds a very special place in my heart. From a young age, Amaani has demonstrated remarkable maturity and empathy. When she visited Pakistan as a child, she would see her father, Zarrar Sehgal’s sincere efforts in raising funds for The Citizen Foundation (TCF) USA. This is an organization dedicated to providing quality education to underprivileged children across Pakistan. Even at the tender age of 12, Amaani began volunteering at the TCF school, teaching children and immersing herself in their world.
One day, after observing the stark contrast between her privileged upbringing and the realities faced by the TCF students, she said something profound: “We are very privileged.” Like many of you, she had attended some of the finest educational institutions, but she was deeply pained that the children at TCF lacked even the most basic educational resources, like textbooks. She wanted to change that. When I asked her how? she replied with a simple yet powerful idea: “Can we gather books from the rich kids and give them to the poor kids?” Her idea was both thoughtful and impactful, and with some refinement and innovation, it blossomed into what we now know as Providentia Books—an initiative she named herself. The idea was conceived by a 12- or 13-yearold girl who saw the inequality around her and wanted to make a difference. The creation of Providentia Books stands as a testament to Amaani’s vision and compassion. It reflects the spirit of “no Pakistani left behind,” which serves as our guiding principle. No child should be denied the opportunity to learn or to thrive simply due to circumstances beyond their control. I hope that Amaani’s story inspires many of you to think critically about how you can make a difference because ideas—no matter how small—have the potential to create lasting change.
I consider myself very fortunate. My entire education took place in this country, I am proud to say I am a homegrown product. I was lucky enough to attend good schools and receive a solid education and was also blessed to have served in the Pakistan Army, and later, to have found business success. But perhaps the greatest blessing has been to meet spectacular individuals like Faisal Mushtaq. Faisal, let me express how proud I am of you. The work you’ve done in the field of education is nothing short of remarkable. Every day, I hope that you continue to learn, grow, and innovate, because this country relies on people like you. We have a talented team in the field of IT that has achieved something extraordinary. They have developed the ASAAN Mobile Account (AMA), a worldclass innovation. This platform allows users to open an account with 16 banks in less than two minutes, all from their mobile phones without the internet and to date, we have opened 11.3 million accounts.
The team behind this ground breaking project consists of young individuals, with an average age of 28, and their work is now being showcased not only in Pakistan but on the global stage at the World Economic Forum. In less than a month, we will be launching the ASAAN Mobile Account App, which will offer a Roman Urdu interface. This innovation is designed to empower individuals who are not fluent in English, enabling them to access banking services and open accounts with ease.
This step is a significant move towards financial inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital transformation. We are collaborating with NAVTTC to address a critical gap for Pakistan’s skilled workers—proficiency in the English language.
While our skilled labourers, such as plumbers, electricians, and technicians, possess remarkable technical abilities—often surpassing their international counterparts—the primary challenge they face when seeking employment abroad is the language barrier. Their inability to communicate in English limits their opportunities, especially in regions like the Middle East and Europe, where English is commonly required. To bridge this gap, NAVTTC is introducing a Basic English Language Certification tailored specifically for our skilled workers who aspire to work overseas.
This certification will equip them with the fundamental language skills needed to navigate job markets abroad. It is an essential step in empowering our workers, allowing them to fully utilize their expertise and secure employment in international markets.
