³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ Mourns the Passing of Syeda Perwin Babar Ali
³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ mourns the passing of Syeda Perwin Babar Ali, a cherished member of the ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ family and a woman remembered for her warmth, grace, spirited personality, love of literature and the arts, and deep commitment to family and community.
Mrs. Ali lived a remarkable life, marked by curiosity, independence, culture, and an abiding appreciation for the people and experiences around her. Born in Peshawar, she grew up in a family deeply rooted in enterprise and public life and studied Humanities and Literature at Kinnaird College, Lahore. Her lifelong interests extended to music, literature, travel, and the arts.
In 1955, she married Syed Babar Ali in Washington, D.C., beginning a partnership that would span more than seven decades. Together, they built a family whose commitment to education, culture, and service has touched generations across Pakistan. They were parents to Syed Hyder Ali and Syeda Henna Ali and grandparents to a close-knit extended family.
Mrs. Ali was also a writer who preserved the richness of her experiences for future generations. Her autobiographical book, A Free Spirit, was launched at ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ in November 2019. Inspired by her grandchildren, the book brought together family memories, photographs, anecdotes, travels, and reflections on a life lived with characteristic spirit and curiosity. Speaking at its launch, she described the book as an account of her life from childhood onwards and the lessons she had learnt along the way.
The launch of A Free Spirit at ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ was especially meaningful. On the same occasion, Mrs. Ali and Babar Sahab inaugurated the University's first dedicated Bookstore at the Suleman Dawood School of Business, a space created to bring books on Pakistani history, arts, literature, and other subjects to the ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ community. The occasion reflected the family's longstanding commitment to education and to the preservation and celebration of Pakistan's cultural heritage.
Mrs. Ali’s appreciation for the arts was reflected in her association with the Naqsh School of Arts, where she supported efforts to preserve traditional artistic practices, including miniature painting and calligraphy. She believed in the value of keeping such traditions alive and accessible to new generations.
Her connection with ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ is also woven into the University's physical and institutional history. Perwin Hall, one of ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ's female residential halls, bears her name. Supported by the Babar Ali Foundation, the University's residential facilities for women have helped make a ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ education more accessible to talented students from across Pakistan. In this way, her name has become part of the everyday life of generations of ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ students.
Her legacy, however, extends beyond the institutions and causes with which her name is associated. It lives most vividly in the memories of her family and friends, in the stories she chose to record in A Free Spirit, and in the affection with which those closest to her remembered her. In 2025, her grandchildren honoured her with The Fearless Perwin, a children's book created to celebrate her life and introduce her story to a new generation.
For the ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ community, Mrs. Ali will remain a treasured part of the University's story. Her life was intertwined with a family whose vision helped shape ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ, while her own presence, generosity, love of books and the arts, and enduring connection to the University gave that story a deeply human dimension.
³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ extends its heartfelt condolences to Syed Babar Ali, Syed Hyder Ali, Syeda Henna Ali, their families, and all those who loved and knew Mrs. Ali.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
