Rooted in the values of equity, inclusion, sustainability, and shared responsibility, CBS is reimagining the role of higher education in shaping a just and compassionate society. It creates spaces where students, scholars, practitioners, and changemakers come together—not just to learn, but to lead.
Guided by the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, CBS places social justice, ethical engagement, and community empowerment at the core of its mission.
In every initiative, CBS works not just to address symptoms, but to inspire systemic change, build capacity for collective action, and nurture the next generation of socially conscious leaders.
Major Achievements and Milestones
#BridgingTheGap: Digital Literacy and Life Skills Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs of Punjab
Oct 2024–Jan 2025
Conducted 4 impactful trainings to over 150 female artisans from across Punjab, focusing on:
- Digital marketing (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook)
- Catalogue photography
- Life skills and customer negotiation
- Climate resilience
- Live selling via Facebook Live
- Institutional Collaborations: Continued partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and engaged more than 10 graduate student volunteers from SDSB.
- Advancement of female microentrepreneurs under SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities).
Women Microenterprise Exhibition: #BridgingTheGap
April 2025
Showcased 75+ female microentrepreneurs from 10+ districts. This exhibition was the culmination of CBS’ digital skills training initiative, which has impacted more than 250 women since 2022.
Community Engagement and Volunteer Programmes
#JoiningHandsofKindness
February – March 2025
- Old Age Home Visit: Created intergenerational learning spaces, facilitated peer counselling, and distributed care-kits.
- Orphanage Visit: Engaged children through games, storytelling, and meaningful interactions during Ramadan.
- Engendering empathy and compassion under the efforts of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Seeds of Change
October 2024
A soft skills workshop for 38 girls in Sheikhupura, conducted in collaboration with the Moawin Foundation, which promoted dialogue on SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 5: Gender Equality.
Christmas Celebration
December 2024
An inclusive festive event for staff and their families, with an aim to foster community harmony and appreciation.
Advocacy and Policy Engagement
Roundtable on Gender-Based Violence and Pathways for Empowerment and Economic Avenues for Women
December 2024
A cross-sectoral dialogue with representatives from the government, civil society, academia, and the private sector, which produced actionable recommendations for integrating economic support with survivor-centric frameworks in Pakistan.
Pinktober Hunt & Awareness Session
October 2024
Engaged the LUMS community (students, staff, and faculty) in a scavenger hunt and ‘Tree of Support’ activity in collaboration with the LUMS Community Service Society. This included a breast cancer awareness session for female janitorial staff in collaboration with Pink Ribbon Pakistan.
Panel Talk on Interspecies Justice
October 2024
Held in celebration of World Animal Day, this panel featured experts and organisations including WWF-Pakistan, Charity Doings Foundation, and LUMS student societies (LUMS Environmental Action Forum and Animal Welfare Society).
Events, Workshops and Outreach Activities
Women Microenterprise Exhibition: #BridgingTheGap
In April 2025, CBS, in partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, hosted this impactful event, which was was held in collaboration with the British Asian Trust and Shirakat–Partnership for Development, uniting efforts to amplify women’s economic empowerment across Pakistan.
The exhibition featured over 75 inspiring female microentrepreneurs from more than 10 districts, including Faisalabad, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, and Rahim Yar Khan. These women showcased an extraordinary range of handcrafted products—from embroidered apparel and artisanal footwear to jewellery, candles, organic foods, and skincare—each item crafted with skill, passion, and resilience.
These entrepreneurs, who are visionaries, change agents, and community leaders, are graduates of CBS’s flagship programme, “#BridgingTheGap: Digital Literacy and Life Skills Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs.” Since 2022, the programme has equipped over 250 women across Punjab with the skills, confidence, and digital tools to launch and sustain their own business.
#JoiningHandsofKindness: Visits to an Orphanage
CBS organised a one-day visit to ‘Mera Ghar Orphanage’ in March 2025, run by the Equal Foundation Society. The visit, held during the holy month of Ramadan, aimed to foster empathy and encourage meaningful service among university students.
To prepare for this, CBS conducted a volunteer recruitment drive across all five schools at LUMS. Eight students were selected to join the visit based on their enthusiasm and commitment to social impact. These volunteers, along with the CBS team, spent the day engaging with the children through games, conversations, storytelling, and creative activities. It reminded everyone involved, children and students alike, of the importance of compassion, community, and shared humanity.
An earlier visit in the lead-up to the holy month of Ramadan in February 2025 reaffirmed CBS’s long-standing commitment to social responsibility and building empathetic leaders for tomorrow.
Seven students, selected from across all five schools at LUMS, participated in this one-day session, which was thoughtfully designed to foster meaningful intergenerational engagement and create lasting impact, not only for the elderly residents, but also for the student volunteers themselves.
As part of the CBS visit, student volunteers facilitated engaging activities such as board games and storytelling circles, bringing joy and warmth to the residents. A dedicated space for peer sharing allowed for heartfelt conversations, where residents reflected on their lives, offering students a profound insight into aging, isolation, and family dynamics—fostering empathy and compassion. The visit concluded with the distribution of thoughtfully assembled care kits, symbolizing both practical support and emotional connection, reminding residents that they are seen, valued, and remembered.
#BridgingTheGap Volume VIII: Digital Skills & Life Skills Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs
Continuing its long-standing partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, CBS organised the eighth volume of this flagship programme in January 2025 at SDSB. Dr. Misbah Tanveer (Director, CBS) served as the Faculty Lead, with Women in Business as the student society partner for the workshop.
Over two transformative days, 45 female microentrepreneurs from across Punjab came together to enhance their business acumen and digital presence through an immersive workshop on digital marketing and life skills. Designed to equip participants with practical tools to grow their businesses, the sessions focused on leveraging WhatsApp Business, Instagram, and Facebook for marketing, while fostering essential entrepreneurial mindsets.
Nine students from the graduate programmes (MBA, EMBA & MS) were onboarded as Volunteer Presenters and Coaches.
The digital marketing component provided hands-on training in creating engaging content, building brand visibility, and effectively reaching customers through social media. Participants explored strategies for storytelling, audience engagement, and platform-specific features to maximise outreach.
Complementing these technical skills, the life skills session centred on confidence-building, decision-making, and resilience in business. Through interactive discussions, participants gained insights into overcoming challenges, managing resources, and sustaining long-term growth.
BridgingTheGap Volume VII: Digital Literacy and Life Skills Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs
On January 15-16, 2025, CBS launched the seventh volume of this flagship workshop. Held in partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, the workshop featured 21 microentrepreneurs from various districts across Punjab.
The day began with an icebreaker and a pre-assessment survey, followed by a session on self-resilience led by Dr. Misbah Tanveer (Faculty Director, CBS). Sessions on WhatsApp Business and Instagram were delivered by Anum Hussain (Marketing and Programmes Associate) and Khadija Ikram (Grants and Projects Associate), respectively. In these hands-on sessions, microentrepreneurs explored how to leverage these platforms to expand their business reach and engage customers effectively. The WhatsApp Business session highlighted features such as automated responses, catalogue setup, and customer interaction strategies, enabling participants to manage communications professionally. The Instagram session introduced content creation tips, visual storytelling through stories, posts and reels, and best practices for reaching new audiences. Together, these sessions equipped the women with practical skills to promote their businesses online, build brand visibility, and connect with customers in a digital-first marketplace.
A session on Catalogue Photography led by Arzoo Ali Gauhar (Head of Unit, CBS) taught various tips and tricks on how to do product photography on smartphones. A demo allowed participants to photograph and upload their products to digital platforms.
The second day featured a session on Customer Negotiation Skills by Dr. Misbah Tanveer, followed by a session on Facebook marketing, including how to conduct Facebook Live sessions for sales. This session was led by the CBS team.
The workshop concluded with a post assessment survey to evaluate its impact, and an exhibition in which the artisans showcased their products to the audience.
Christmas Celebration Evening
As part of its inclusivity efforts, CBS organised its annual Christmas Celebration for staff members and their families on December 23, 2024. The festive event began with a welcome note by Dr. Misbah Tanveer (Faculty Director, CBS), who extended warm greetings and highlighted the importance of communal solidarity and harmony.
The event was hosted by Malik Imran Abbas (Faculty Support Associate, SDSB), who engaged the enthusiastic audience with his wit and humour. A Bible recitation and prayer were followed by an enchanting magic show, which was a highlight for the families. This was followed by heartfelt individual performances by staff and their families, including songs, poetry recitations, and dance acts that lit up the stage!
Gifts were distributed by the CBS team, and goodie bags were handed out to all attendees. The evening concluded with a Christmas cake-cutting ceremony and a tea party to bring the event to a close.
Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Pakistan: Roundtable Session to discuss Pathways for Empowerment and Economic Avenues for Women
CBS partnered with the Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Department of Punjab to organise a Roundtable Session commemorating the 16-days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The session was held in December 2024 at SDSB . The policy roundtable brought together a diverse group of experts and practitioners from the legal, non-profit, government, civil services, and academic sectors to foster a holistic dialogue. The session aimed to explore the intersection between gender-based violence and women’s economic empowerment, addressing structural inequalities and proposing actionable strategies for creating inclusive frameworks across sectors.
Notable organisations and institutes represented on the panel included the Social Welfare Department, British High Commission, State Bank of Pakistan, Bali Memorial Trust, Punjab Police, Jazz, Sapphire Retail, Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, Go Flour, Akhuwat, Shirkatgah, and the Punjab Development Skills Fund, among others.
The session began with a welcome address by Dr. Fazal Jawad Seyyed, Dean, SDSB, who lauded the initiative and emphasised the importance of cross-sectoral dialogue to combating gender-based violence, noting the vital role of economic empowerment in protecting women within our communities. This was followed by opening remarks from Khawaja Sikander Zeeshan, Director General, Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Department, Punjab, who spoke about the initiatives undertaken by the department towards the social security of victims. He stressed the critical role of digital media in raising awareness of women’s rights and the protective frameworks available to them.
Moderated by Sahar Bandiyal, Advocate, High Court and faculty member at Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law, LUMS, the roundtable discussions were enriched by multidisciplinary perspectives. Legal representatives highlighted the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms and accessible legal aid for survivors. Key outcomes of the session included actionable recommendations such as integrating economic support into gender-based violence response frameworks, scaling grassroots-level empowerment and skills development programmes, and fostering public-private partnerships to enhance resource mobilisation. Participants also called for strengthening cross-sector collaboration to ensure that all policies are both survivor-centred and rooted in gender equity.
#BridgingTheGap Volume VI: Digital Skills Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs
In November 2024, CBS launched the sixth volume of this flagship programme. Held in partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, the one-day session featured 43 microentrepreneurs from various districts of Punjab.
The day began with an icebreaker activity and a pre-assessment survey, followed by a session on self-resilience led by Dr. Misbah Tanveer (Faculty Director, CBS). This was succeeded by hands-on training sessions on WhatsApp Business and Instagram, delivered by the CBS team. Participants explored how to leverage these platforms to expand their business reach and engage customers effectively. The WhatsApp Business session highlighted tools like automated responses, catalogue setup, and customer interaction strategies, enabling participants to manage communications professionally. The Instagram session introduced content creation tips, visual storytelling through stories, posts and reels, and best practices for reaching new audiences. Together, these sessions equipped the women with practical skills to promote their businesses online, boost brand visibility, and connect with customers in a digital-first marketplace.
The workshop concluded with a post assessment survey to analyse the impact of the workshop followed by an exhibition in which the artisans showcased their products to the audience.
#BridgingTheGap Volume V, Multan Chapter: Digital Literacy, Life Skills and Climate Resilience Workshop for Female Microentrepreneurs
In continuation of its partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, CBS travelled to Multan to launch the fifth volume of this series. Held over two days, October 31-November 1, 2024, the workshop gathered 45 female microentrepreneurs to develop essential skills for navigating the digital landscape and scaling their businesses. Designed to empower women business owners with the tools to expand their reach, customer engagement, and build their clientele, this workshop emphasised practical strategies for leveraging social media business platforms including WhatsApp Business and Instagram to drive growth in their microbusinesses.
The programme kicked off with an interactive group icebreaker led by Dr. Misbah Tanveer (Faculty Director, CBS and Faculty Lead of the Workshop). Each group of female artisans were requested to write what each of them are proud of and give their groups a name. What followed were inspirational outpours of the artisans being proud of their abilities to multitask, overcoming societal limitations, and building their businesses alongside managing their households. Many were proud of being the breadwinners of the household and financially supporting their families, educating their children, and being a symbol of empowerment for themselves and their peers.
This was followed by presentation sessions on WhatsApp Business and Instagram, led by Anum Hussain (Marketing and Programmes Associate, CBS) and Khadija Ikram (Grants and Projects Associate, CBS), respectively. The sessions were aimed at equipping them with practical skills to grow their businesses online.
The second day featured a session focused on climate resilience. In this session led by Arzoo Ali Gauhar (Head of Unit, CBS), female microentrepreneurs learned strategies to adapt their businesses to the challenges posed by a changing climate. Participants engaged in interactive discussions on how to take cautious steps to safeguard their businesses and resources given the climate change, equipping them with tools and knowledge to enhance their businesses’ sustainability and stability. The second day ended with a session on Facebook Live, tips and tricks on how to conduct a successful live stream to sell products to a larger audience. The two-day workshop concluded on a positive note with a certificate distribution ceremony, attended by representatives from CBS, Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, and the State Bank of Pakistan.
Pinktober Hunt: Unlocking Breast Cancer Awareness
In a spirited celebration of Pinktober, CBS collaborated with its longstanding partners—the LUMS Community Service Society and Pink Ribbon Pakistan—to host a memorable event full of excitement, education, and empowerment in support of breast cancer awareness.
This event held in October 2024 kicked off with a thrilling scavenger hunt that brought together the entire LUMS fraternity (students, staff, and faculty) as they competed in teams and explored various booths set up across the campus. The scavenger hunt not only tested participants' skills but also provided key insights into the importance of early detection and breast health.
Attendees then gathered for the inauguration of the ‘Tree of Support’, an initiative by CBS allowing individuals to share messages of support for breast cancer patients. The tree will be donated to a Pink Ribbon hospital.
The final activity was an inspiring and informative awareness session led by a breast cancer doctor, specifically organised for the female janitorial staff of LUMS. The session highlighted recent advancements in detection, treatment, and prevention, and emphasised the critical importance of regular screenings and self-examinations. (Picture shared in the folder titled “Activity_x”)
Seeds of Change: Visit to Sheikhupura
CBS, in collaboration with LUMS Consultancy Group, visited the Moawin Foundation’s facility in Sheikhupura in October 2024. With a shared mission to create sustainable social impact by empowering girls and women at the grassroots level, the visit became a day of inspiration, learning, and meaningful exchange.
The session aimed at inculcating key soft skills that included communication, teamwork, negotiation skills, and how to tackle hardships through EQ development. 38 girls enrolled in the school and vocational centre at Moawin Foundation’s facility in Sheikhupura gathered, eager to learn something different—unlocking the power of soft skills that would not just help them in school, but shape how they interact with the world.
The day began with an icebreaker activity, where everyone wrote down their hobbies and future aspirations on pieces of paper and then created planes out of them! This was followed by communication exercises, where they practiced expressing ideas clearly and actively listening, discovering how easily messages can be misinterpreted without effective communication.
A session on negotiation sparked particular excitement. The girls roleplayed scenarios such as selling a pen, learning that negotiation is not about winning or losing, but about finding mutual satisfaction.
Activities also explored emotional intelligence and teamwork. This segment included various role-playing and interactive activities that spurred the girls to think on their own feet. The groups deliberated on what companies they would want to launch and how they would synergise their skills and resources for efficient teamwork. By the end of the session, the classroom was buzzing with excitement and reflection.
Panel Talk on Interspecies Justice
Under its efforts of advancing the UN SDGs, CBS organised this panel session in alignment with SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land. The event, held in October 2024, commemorated World Animal Day and brought together a coalition of prominent organisations including WWF-Pakistan, Charity Doings Foundation, Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan, Virsapur, Animal Welfare Society of LUMS (AWS), and the LUMS Environmental Action Forum (LEAF).
The keynote address was delivered by Feryal Ali Gauhar—renowned novelist, lecturer, animal rescuer, activist, filmmaker, and advisor. The session was moderated by Altamush Saeed (Co-founder, Charity Doings Foundation and Managing Partner, EARC). The expert panel included Dr. Uzma Khan (Wildlife Biologist, WWF-Pakistan), Mian Ahmad Farooq (Founder, Virsapur), Khadija Aftab (President, AWS-LUMS), and Ammara Imran (President, LEAF).
The talk explored the deep interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment, emphasising the ethical and ecological importance of recognising the rights and needs of all living beings. The discussion focused on the idea that justice must extend beyond human societies to include animals and the ecosystems they inhabit, as their well-being is intrinsically linked to ours.
The panellists stressed that achieving interspecies justice requires a fundamental shift in how we view our relationship with nature, advocating for a more compassionate and ethical approach to resource consumption, land use, and wildlife conservation. By recognising the interconnectedness of all species, we can foster a more just and sustainable world for present and future generations. The session concluded with an excerpt reading by author Feryal Ali Gauhar from her book An Abundance of Wild Roses.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Kaarvan Crafts Foundation - Oct 2024 – Jan 2025
#BridgingTheGap Vol. V–VIII Workshops; Strategic partner in organising digital literacy, life skills, and climate resilience workshops for female microentrepreneurs across Punjab.
LUMS Community Service Society (LCSS) and Pink Ribbon Pakistan – October 15, 2024
Pinktober Hunt: Unlocking Breast Cancer Awareness; Awareness-raising and student-led campaign promoting early detection of breast cancer and women’s health.
Social Welfare & Bait-ul-Maal Department, Punjab – December 4, 2024
Roundtable on Addressing Gender-Based Violence; Government partner in a cross-sectoral policy dialogue focused on economic avenues for women and survivor-centric frameworks.
Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, British Asian Trust, and Shirakat – Partnership for Development – April 19, 2025
Women Microenterprise Exhibition: #BridgingTheGap; Co-organisers of a national exhibition celebrating the culmination of CBS’s #BridgingTheGap series. The event amplified the voices and work of 75+ female microentrepreneurs through market access, visibility, and community engagement.
Moawin Foundation and LUMS Consultancy Group (LCG) – October 11, 2024
Seeds of Change: Visit to Sheikhupura; Co-organisers of a soft skills development workshop for girls, promoting empowerment through emotional intelligence and communication skills.
WWF-Pakistan and Charity Doings Foundation – October 3, 2024
Panel Talk on Interspecies Justice; Co-hosts and knowledge partners for an expert-led panel discussion on animal welfare, interspecies equity, and environmental justice.