Profile
Legal Structure
The University of Management and Technology (UMT) is a prominent educational institution established by the
Provincial Assembly of the Government of Punjab through ACT XV of 2004 (University of Management and
Technology, Lahore Act 2004). It operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to providing higher education. The University is recognized and accredited by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, which ensures its
academic standards and quality. UMT has established campuses in Lahore and Sialkot, extending its reach to
students across the region. The University offers a range of programs aimed at fostering academic excellence and
leadership in various disciplines, particularly focusing on management, technology, and related fields. With its
accreditation by the HEC, UMT is considered one of the leading institutions in Pakistan, contributing to the
development of skilled professionals and leaders in diverse sectors.
Background
The University of Management and Technology (UMT) traces its origins back to the Institute of Leadership and
Management Trust (ILM Trust), which was founded in 1990 by the renowned educationist Dr. Hasan Sohaib Murad.
Initially, ILM Trust focused on providing technical diplomas but later expanded its offerings to include degree
programs, marking the beginning of its broader educational mission. Over the years, ILM Trust evolved into a
significant player in Pakistan's education sector. Beyond the establishment of UMT, ILM Trust also franchised
numerous TKS Schools and ILM Colleges, further strengthening its educational presence across the country.
These institutions have contributed to shaping the educational landscape of Pakistan, particularly in the elds of
leadership, management, and technical education. Today, UMT, alongside ILM Trust's educational franchises, plays
a pivotal role in fostering academic excellence and leadership skills, with a substantial influence on Pakistan's
educational infrastructure.
Operations
The University offers degrees and programs in 55+ educational disciplines which are broadly classified as
Engineering, Sciences, Life Sciences, Social Sciences and Management Sciences. The University also has
institutes in the fields of Islamic studies, Aviation studies, Information Technology and liberal arts. The University
has a student enrollment of 25,000+ students. The University has separate dedicated faculty teams for each
individual educational department and currently has 1000+ faculty members employed with 300 PhDs. The main
Lahore campus has been constructed on land owned by the trust which spans across an area of ~200 kanals with a
student range of 25000+. The purpose-built campus comprises buildings for different departments with
classrooms, cafeterias, auditorium rooms, and halls for catering to students and faculty. The University’s library for
faculty members and students has a substantial number of resources available. Furthermore, the campus has well equipped laboratories for facilitating science students.
Ownership
Ownership Structure
The University, is a non-profit educational institution that is chartered by the Government of Punjab. As an
independent corporate body, the University operates under the governance of a Board of Governors, which is
comprised of professionally qualified personnel from various disciplines. This governance structure ensures that
UMT is managed by a diverse group of experts with experience in different fields, enabling the university to
maintain high standards of education and administration. The Board plays a critical role in guiding the university's
strategic direction, overseeing its operations, and ensuring its alignment with the mission of providing quality
higher education.
Stability
The structure is seen as stable as the second generation of Murad family has been inducted in the operations of
ILM Trust and the University.
Business Acumen
The Board of Governors of UMT and Board of Trustees of ILM Trust consist of highly dedicated individuals who
possess significant experience and strong acumen in the field of education. These members bring with them a
deep understanding of both domestic and international dynamics within the education sector. Their collective
expertise ensures that the university remains aligned with the latest trends and best practices in higher education,
both locally and globally. The strategic guidance and leadership provided by these boards contribute to UMT’s
commitment to maintaining high educational standards and fostering a forward-thinking academic environment
that meets the evolving needs of students and the broader community.
Financial Strength
The financial strength of the University remains adequate owing to the growing performance over the years.
Governance
Board Structure
The Board of Governors is the highest authority of the University for formulating policies and plans pertaining to
the academic and administrative affairs of the University. The members of the Board of Governors and their
positions have been defined in the Charter of the University. The Board of Trustees is the authoritative body for the
ILM Trust.
Members’ Profile
The Board of Governors includes representatives from the ILM Trust, Government and Regulatory Bodies. Mr.
Ibrahim Hasan Murad Honors Chairman & President University of Management and Technology. With multiple
leadership roles under his belt, Mr. Ibrahim Hasan Murad primarily aims to provide opportunities for a powerful
future ahead.
Board Effectiveness
The Board of Governors and Board of Trustees at the UMT bring a wealth of experience and insight into the
education sector, with the majority of the members having significant backgrounds in both academic and
administrative aspects of education. This extensive experience allows them to provide valuable guidance and
ensure that the University operates at the highest standards. Both Boards convene twice a year, during which they
review the university's performance, strategic goals, and future direction. They are supported by two key bodies.
The Academic Council – Responsible for advising on academic policies, curriculum development, and overall
educational quality, ensuring that UMT’s academic offerings remain relevant and rigorous. The Finance and
Planning Committee –prepare the annual statement of accounts and propose annual budget estimates and advise
the Board of Governors thereon; (b) review periodically the financial position of the University; (c) advise the Board
of Governors on all matters relating to finance, investments and accounts of the University; and (d) perform such
other functions as may be prescribed by the Statute.
Financial Transparency
Alam and Aulakh Chartered Accountants are the external auditors of the University. The auditor has expressed an
unqualified opinion on the financial statements for year-end Jun-25. The firm is QCR-rated, however, not on SBP’s
panel of auditors.
Management
Organizational Structure
The University’s organizational structure has been optimized according to its operating and administrative needs.
The University mainly operates through administration, treasurer, academic, internal audit, research and
compliance functions. The Rector is responsible for overseeing all of these departments, ensuring they operate
efficiently and in alignment with the university’s goals. The Rector reports directly to the Chairman of the Board,
who in turn reports to the Board of Governors. The Head of Internal Audit operates independently and reports
directly to the Audit Committee of the Board. This structure ensures transparency and accountability within the
university, with clear lines of authority and responsibility at every level of the organization.
Management Team
All the members of the strategic management group have experience of at least two decades. The Chairman &
President, Mr. Ibrahim Hasan Murad, has Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Management and has
been associated with the University for over a decade. Ibrahim Murad started working as President in UMT,
simultaneously establishing many organizations under the shade of ILM Trust and UMT, including First IBL
Modaraba. Dr. Asif Raza-Rector, has done his PhD Communication and Electronic System Engineering from Beijing
University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China. He has an experience of working at different academic and
administrative designations at different institutes i.e. NESCOM and PAF College of Aeronautical Engineering. Treasurer/CFO: Muhammad Toheed Akram, a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), FCCA (UK), Certified
Internal Auditor (CIA, USA), and BSc (Hons) graduate from Oxford Brookes University (UK), is an accomplished finance professional with extensive expertise in financial management, risk assessment, and compliance. Having
held key leadership roles such as CFO and Group Head of Internal Audit, he is known for driving strategic planning,
process optimization, and governance excellence across industries.
Effectiveness
The long-standing association of the senior management of the University has ensured consistency in the overall
policies, and strengthening of the management structure.
MIS
The University has deployed proper technology infrastructure to effectively manage the information related to its
main activities. The University uses Microsoft Dynamics 365 as its ERP software. Reports are regularly shared with
the management of the University.
Control Environment
Environment There is proper segregation of all the duties which provides support to the control environment of the
University. Furthermore, in-house presence of internal audit department ensures that the policies and procedures
are implemented.
Business Risk
Industry Dynamics
Pakistan's education sector contributed -2.3% to GDP in FY24, with tertiary education seeing steady growth.
University enrolments, led by rising demand from the 15-29 age group, which forms -26.6% of the population.
Sector revenues grew -21.3% YoY, supported by increased enrolments and higher tuition fees. Operating and net
margins improved to -14.8% and -16.4%, respectively, reflecting efcient cost management. Despite low public
education spending (-0.1% of GDP), private sector participation remains strong. The sector's borrowing structure is
moderately diversied, with 33.6% in construction financing. With a growing youth base and digital advancements,
the outlook for higher education remains stable and expansionary.
Relative Position
The University has a considerable market share in the education sector of Punjab. The University is among the top five universities of Lahore based on the programs being offered to students, enrolment, and faculty.
Revenues
The income of the University primarily comes from tuition fees, which form the largest portion of its revenue. Other
minor sources of income include hostel fees, as well as fines and penalties. In recent years, the university has
experienced signicant growth in enrollment numbers and undertaken various expansion projects, both of which
have contributed to an increase in overall revenue. During FY25, the total revenue of UMT was PKR 8,009 million,
which represents a 11% (YoY) increase compared to FY24, when revenue stood at PKR 7,201 million. This growth in
revenue highlights the university’s successful expansion and increasing demand for its academic offerings,
positioning UMT as a key player in the higher education sector in Pakistan.
Margins
The major costs incurred by the University are primarily related to salaries and wages paid to the staff. While these
expenses have increased in recent years, the university's margins have still shown improvement, largely due to the
higher revenues generated from increased enrollment and expansion projects. In terms of financial performance
gross margin for FY24 stood at ~23.8%, a slight increase from ~22.8% in FY24. There is an increase despite the rising
costs associated with the university’s operations, although it still maintains a strong margin overall. Operating
margin followed a similar trend, with FY25 at ~11%, down from ~11.1% in FY24. Despite these challenges, the university benefits from its minimal finance costs and tax-exempt status, which
have contributed to a steady growth in its net profit margin. In FY25, UMT posted a net surplus of PKR 1,144 million,
up from PKR 950 million in FY24. As a result, the net margin increased slightly, standing at ~14.3% in FY25,
compared to ~13.2% in FY24. This indicates that, despite some cost increases, the University's overall profitability
continues to grow, reflecting effective financial management and strong revenue generation.
Sustainability
Going forward, the University aims to expand its operations by establishing a separate medical and dental college
along with a teaching hospital. The projected is to be funded by a mix of equity and debt.
Financial Risk
Working capital
The working capital requirements of the University primarily depend on its trade receivables and trade payables.
Trade receivables consist of amounts owed by students for tuition and other fees. Trade payables mainly include
salaries owed to employees. The net working capital days stood at (4) day, reflecting a very efficient management of
its working capital. Receivable days stood around 13 days, which indicates the average time the university takes to
collect payments from students. Payable days of around 17 days, representing the average time taken by the
university to pay its staff salaries and other liabilities. With the difference between receivable and payable days
being small, the university effectively manages its cash flow and working capital requirements, ensuring it
maintains liquidity and operational efficiency. The low net working capital days reflect a well-managed financial
structure.
Coverages
UMT has demonstrated strong financial performance, particularly in terms of its cash generation. The university's
Free Cash Flow from Operations (FCFO) showed improvement during FY25, rising to PKR 1,275 million,
compared to PKR 1,180 million in FY24. This increase in FCFO is primarily a result of the higher income generated
during the year, reflecting the success of the university's expansion and increased enrollment. On the funding side,
the university’s finance cost for FY25 stood at PKR 58 million, a decrease from PKR 128 million in FY24.
This reduction in finance costs, combined with strong cash flows, has contributed to a robust interest coverage
ratio, which improved to 22x in FY25, up from 9.2x in FY24. The university has consistently maintained a strong
interest coverage ratio over the years due to its high free cash flows and low finance costs, indicating its ability to
meet interest obligations comfortably. Furthermore, the university has a strong debt coverage ratio, which stood at
16x in FY24, compared to 3.7x in FY24. This indicates that UMT has a solid ability to cover its debt obligations
from its operational income, reflecting a strong financial position and prudent management of debt.
Capitalization
The University maintains a low leveraged capital structure, with a mix of long-term debt and short-term running finance to support its expansion efforts and working capital requirements. As of FY25, long-term debt stood at
PKR 3 million, a decrease from PKR 182 million in FY24. Short-term debt was reported at 0 in
FY25, down from PKR 196 million in FY24. As a result, the university’s total debt was PKR 25 million in FY25, down from PKR 571 million in FY24. This reduction in total debt reflects a strategy of managing
leverage and potentially reducing reliance on borrowed capital. In terms of equity, the university had an
accumulated fund (equity base) of PKR 5,721 million as of FY25, a significant increase from PKR 4,577 million in
FY24, indicating strong retained earnings and a solid equity base. This resulted in a leveraging ratio being stable at ~11% in
FY25. The lower leveraging ratio highlights the university’s improving financial
position, with a greater proportion of its capital coming from equity rather than debt, reflecting a lower financial
risk and greater sustainability.
|