Aisha Steel Mills Appoints Kashif Habib as New CEO, Ending 12-Year Tenure of Dr. Munir Ahmed

Aisha Steel Mills Limited has announced the appointment of Kashif Habib as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2026, according to a disclosure filed with the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The notice, submitted on Tuesday and detailed in the company's November 3 filing, confirms that Habib will succeed Dr. Munir Ahmed, who has led the steelmaker for more than twelve years.

The leadership change marks a significant transition within the Arif Habib Group. Kashif Habib is already a familiar figure in the group's corporate structure, serving as chief executive of Power Cement and as a non-executive director of Aisha Steel Mills. A chartered accountant by training, he began his career at A.F. Ferguson & Co. and has since held senior executive roles across the group's cement and fertilizer businesses.

Habib takes the helm at a time when Pakistan's steel sector is navigating shifting demand, energy costs, and broader economic adjustments. His background in cement and fertilizers, combined with his group-level leadership experience, is expected to guide the company's next phase of operations. The company has asked the exchange to notify its members of the appointment.

The outgoing CEO, Dr. Munir Ahmed, leaves behind a long legacy in the metals industry. He joined Aisha Steel Mills in October 2014 and served as its chief executive for over twelve years. A metallurgical engineer with a PhD from the University of Connecticut, Dr. Ahmed previously spent 15 years at Peoples Steel Mills, progressing through senior operational roles to become managing director.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Ahmed held senior research and industrial project positions at Dr. A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories. His contributions to metallurgy were recognized with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's highest civilian honors. His departure marks the end of a stable leadership era for Aisha Steel, which is one of the country's prominent flat steel producers.

The transition is likely to be watched closely by investors and industry observers as Aisha Steel Mills continues to operate in a competitive and cost-sensitive market. The company's disclosure did not specify further details about the leadership handover or any changes to its board structure. The appointment of Kashif Habib is effective from November 1, 2026, according to the PSX notice.