KARACHI, April 29: The Shaikh Zayed Islamic Centre (SZIC), University of Karachi, is planning launching of courses in Islamic Economics with Banking and LLB in Shariah and Law.

This was revealed by Director of the Centre Prof Khalil-ur-Rehman while briefing a delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which visited the SZIC on Thursday.

It was led by Shaikh Rumyathi, Adviser to the UAE ruler Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. Vice-Chancellor of Karachi University, Prof Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, and Prof Khalil-ur-Rehman briefed the delegation on the academic activities of the Centre.

They said that the courses being offered at present included BA Honours in Islamic Studies and MA in Islamic Studies, both with computer technology; M.Phil; and PhD courses in Islamic Studies and Arabic.

Prof Rehman pointed out that the Centre intended to initiate a three-year BA Honours course in Islamic Economics with Banking which would lead to the one-year Masters course. A four-year LLB course in Shariah and Law is also being planned besides research in these disciplines, he added.

The new courses would be offered after necessary approval from the Academic Council, University of Karachi. Shaikh Rumyathi went round various sections of the Centre and expressed his satisfaction over the academic facilities available there.

The VC of Karachi University hoped that such visits would continue to be paid and the collaboration between Pakistan and UEA would be strengthened further in future to benefit the Ummah. There are three SZICs in Pakistan, one each in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. -APP