Ali Alman Qamar.

Master of Finance alum drives landmark IPO in Pakistan

30 April 2025

The article at a glance

After completing his Master of Finance degree at Cambridge Judge in 2022, Ali Alam Qamar returned to Pakistan where he recently led a major IPO. He says that his time at Cambridge was an instrumental step in achieving this remarkable achievement in his career and his entrepreneurship journey.

Ali Alman Qamar.

Zarea Limited, a B2B e-commerce platform founded in 2020 by Ali Alam Qamar (MFin 2022), has successfully listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), marking the first IPO of 2025 on the PSX main board, raising over Rs 1.03 billion. Zarea is the first e-commerce marketplace to go public in Pakistan.

Ali says, “This IPO is not just a milestone for Zarea, but also a landmark event for Pakistan’s capital markets. It underscores the growing investor appetite for technology-based businesses and highlights the role of e-commerce in transforming traditional industries. Zarea’s successful listing signals a shift in how businesses are leveraging digital platforms to streamline supply chains, enhance market access, and improve efficiencies in Pakistan’s commodity sectors.”

The Cambridge Master of Finance played a key role in shaping Ali’s understanding of financial strategy, capital markets, and investment structuring, which he says proved invaluable throughout the IPO process.

“The experience reinforced my ability to scale a business, navigate regulatory complexities, and attract institutional investment. This achievement is a testament to the power of education, perseverance, and innovation in emerging markets.” Ali said.

I am deeply grateful to Cambridge Judge Business School for being a key part of my journey. The skills and network I developed there have been instrumental in Zarea’s success.

Ali Alam Qamar (MFin 2022)

The Master of Finance

A one-year masters degree from Cambridge Judge Business School, at the heart of the University of Cambridge. Open doors to exciting new career possibilities with a Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin).

Interested to find out more?

Introduce yourself to us and we can tailor the information we send you to meet your interests and situation.

Related articles

Sophie Feng.

We sat down with Sophie Feng (MFin 2024), recipient of the Pembroke Fund Scholarship, to learn more about her inspiring journey. In this interview, Sophie shares her motivations, experiences and aspirations, and offers valuable insights for future applicants.

Ruiyan at Christ College.

The City Speaker Series is one of the highlights of the Cambridge MFin programme, providing students with the opportunity to meet and network with leading finance practitioners. Speakers are experts in their fields, often working at the cutting edge of applied finance. Here Ruiyan Hou (MFin 2024) shares some of her personal highlights from the City Speaker Series and the Cambridge MFin programme.

MFin 2024 Women in Finance scholars Sharda Goolcharan and Wangyang Ye.

This year’s Master of Finance (MFin) class boasts the strongest female representation to date, with women making up 52% of the cohort. We spoke to the recipients of our Women in Finance Scholarships to hear more about female initiatives at Cambridge Judge, their experiences on the programme, and the challenges and opportunities for women in the industry.