HR fraternity mourns demise of Zafar Aziz Osmani

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The community of the professionals in the field of Human Resources (HR) in Pakistan has lost one of its gurus as Zafar Aziz Osmani breathed his last on the morning of June 26 at Karachi where he was also laid to rest later in the day. 

Innumerable condolence messages have kept pouring in on the various social media forums, describing it as a huge loss for the HR in Pakistan. He has been hailed for having stood as a towering figure in Pakistan’s corporate ecosystem. 

He was also been credited for redefining the strategic value of HR, showing businesses that human capital is the ultimate competitive advantage. He indeed fulfilled the definition of an HR icon and was greatly revered for his insights, warmth, and dedication to enhance capacity-building. 

His enviable abilities of steering major national transformations, with class, wisdom, and unmatched brilliance are also being acknowledged. 

As one of his former colleagues pointed out that some people leave behind more than memories, they leave behind a legacy. 

Zafar Aziz Osmani was a man of remarkable wisdom, positivity and an inspiring spirit. A true mentor, guide whose encouragement and leadership touched countless lives. He was very rightly also acclaimed as one of the institution builders. 

His legacy will indeed endure through the institutions he helped transform and the countless professionals whose lives and careers he inspired. His contributions to Pakistan's corporate sector and the HR profession will remain a lasting source of inspiration for generations to come.

Zafar Aziz Osmani was also an ardent lover of sports and he made telling contributions while heading sports divisions of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and K-Electric. He was invited as the chief guest in the launching ceremony of Ehsan Qureshi's book on World Cup 1999 during which he impressed everyone with his knowledge about cricket. Little Master Hanif Muhammad alongwith celebrated journalists, Gul Hameed Bhatti and Munir Hussain, were also present at the stage in that memorable event at the Karachi Club.