Syed Babar Ali lives a strikingly simple life. His meals are unpretentious — daal chawal, vegetables and the occasional serving of meat. His days are structured by routine: five days a week at the office, weekends at home with family and friends. Every Sunday, he visits his parents grave at Mubarak Haveli — his once-ancestral home at Bhati Gate in Lahore’s old city area, which also houses an imambargah and an art school. After prayers, he hosts guests at Mubarak Haveli or at his home in Gulberg from all walks of life — sometimes five, sometimes 25 — serving halwa puri and tea.

And this is all the more remarkable because, on June 30, 2026, arguably the most respected business magnate in Pakistan will turn a century old.

How much can one man achieve in 100 years? Syed Babar Ali’s life is a testament to precisely this question.

For most guests, it’s always a surprise that a man of such stature and accomplishments is so approachable, accommodating and curious. Syed Babar Ali, or SBA as he is known, credits his father, Syed Maratib Ali, for his being grounded and humble. Even his autobiography is titled Learning From Others.

Business magnate, philanthropist and institution-builder are only a few words one can use to try and sum up the seemingly endless endeavours of Syed Babar Ali, who turns 100 on June 30. Few Pakistanis have witnessed as much history and contributed to it in equal measure. On the eve of his century on Earth, Eos pays tribute to one businessman in Pakistan nobody seems to have anything negative to say about…

Business magnate, philanthropist and institution-builder are only a few words one can use to try and sum up the seemingly endless endeavours of Syed Babar Ali, who turns 100 on June 30. Few Pakistanis have witnessed as much history and contributed to it in equal measure. On the eve of his century on Earth, Eos pays tribute to one businessman in Pakistan nobody seems to have anything negative to say about…

BUILDING INSTITUTIONS, NOT BUSINESSES

Now contrast that with what SBA has achieved.

One of his earliest business decisions was to shift focus to Lahore from Karachi, where his family’s industrial interests were largely anchored. As a 30-year-old, he established Packages Limited in 1956, following a joint venture with a Swedish firm. The venture was such a success that it probably played a role in the Swedish prime minister visiting Pakistan in the 1960s — the only such visit to date.

Over time, Packages Limited became a company whose products now sit in almost every Pakistani home, from Rose Petal tissues to printer inks and cornstarch. Today, the group has expanded beyond packaging into retail as well, including its well-known mall in Lahore, which has become a recognisable urban landmark in its own right.

But Packages was only the beginning. Much of SBA’s legacy is defined by a sustained pattern of institution-building and international joint ventures, many of them shaped through long-standing relationships, most notably with the Swedish Rausing family. These ties proved foundational to ventures such as Packages itself, Tetra Pak and Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited.

SBA is also the founder of Milkpak Limited, which later evolved into a joint venture and is now part of Nestlé, one of the largest food processing companies in the country today. He established Tetra Pak Pakistan Limited as the local arm of the global Swedish liquid food packaging company. His footprint extended further into the financial and industrial sectors, including the International General Insurance (IGI) Group, where he served as........

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