The Higher Education Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, University of Narowal, the Islamic Research Institute of the International Islamic University Islamabad and Jamia Muhammadi Sharif organised a one-day seminar at the Seerat Center in Lahore on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The event brought together more than 100 participants including applicants for Seerah Chairs, professors from higher education institutions in Lahore and faculty members from various city colleges.
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, attended as the chief guest. Distinguished speakers included Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zia Ul Haq, Vice Chancellor University of Narowal; Prof. Dr. Ali Bin Khizran bin Muhammad Al ’Umri from King Khalid University, Abha; Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Al Ahmed, President of the International Islamic University Islamabad; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akram, Director General of the Islamic Research Institute; and Sahibzada Muhammad Qamar Ul Haq, President of Jamia Muhammadi Sharif.
Attendees were organised into six thematic groups to explore Leadership and Governance; Human Rights and Social Justice in the perspective of the Seerah of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him); Business, Commerce and Property Rights in the perspective of the Seerah; Education and Knowledge in the perspective of the Seerah; Gender Studies, Women’s Rights and Social Welfare in the perspective of the Seerah; and Global Peace, Interfaith and Communal Harmony and Sustainable Development in the perspective of the Seerah. Each group work aimed to link classical Seerah teachings with practical academic and social programmes.
In his keynote address Prof. Ahsan Iqbal stressed that answers to many contemporary challenges can be found in the light of the Seerah and urged the younger generation not only to study and admire the Seerah but to apply its teachings in daily life. He outlined plans under each Seerah Chair to establish leadership campuses, research programmes and student forums to institutionalise scholarly engagement and ensure continuity of Seerah-focused work across universities.
The Minister highlighted that Seerah Chairs place a significant responsibility on universities to connect the teachings of the Seerah with modern global challenges, including interfaith harmony, social justice and sustainable development. Referring to national development frameworks such as Vision 2025 and Uraan Pakistan, he said true advancement must include social harmony, emotional stability, moral strength and wisdom alongside physical infrastructure.
At the close of the seminar Dr. Muhammad Irfan Sheeraz, Deputy Director at the Seerat Center Lahore, expressed the Higher Education Commission’s gratitude to the guests and participants for their contributions. The programme ended with the exchange of souvenirs among dignitaries and a group photograph to commemorate the occasion, marking a concrete step toward strengthened Seerah research and community engagement under the Seerah Chairs initiative.
