The School of Economics at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), in collaboration with the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, hosted the 2nd International Economics Conference, focused on Islamic Social Finance and Economic Development.
The conference, held on the university's campus, attracted renowned scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and academicians from Pakistan and abroad, who discussed the pivotal role of Islamic finance in promoting sustainable economic growth.
The inaugural session featured key speakers, including Dr Humayun Dar from the Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance, Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer, a judge of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC), and former senator Hafiz Hamdullah. The event also saw contributions from Dr Muhammad Tariq Majeed, director of the School of Economics, and former Dean Dr M Idrees.
Dr Humayun Dar highlighted the growing relevance of Islamic economics and finance, noting that conventional economic models are losing credibility due to their limitations in addressing global challenges.
He emphasised that sustainable and responsible consumption, central to Islamic teachings, is increasingly shaping the economic landscape. Dar also expressed his support for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Islamic Economy at QAU, offering financial backing for its development.
Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer stressed the significance of Islamic social finance and encouraged the organizers to host similar conferences regularly to deepen discussions in this vital area. He endorsed the proposed Centre of Excellence, recognising its potential to advance both academic and practical research in Islamic economics.
Hafiz Hamdullah praised the conference's impact and highlighted its role in fostering interest in an interest-free economy within Pakistan.
The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance and QAU's School of Economics, marking a significant step in strengthening collaboration for research and development in Islamic economics and finance.
Prof Niaz Ahmad Akhtar honoured Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of Islamic economics.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ