KARACHI, March 10: Veteran journalist and founder of the Pakistan Press International (PPI), Syed Muazzam Ali, died here on Thursday. He was 83.

Funeral prayers will be held after Friday prayers at the Sultan Masjid in Defence Housing Society.

Syed Muazzam Ali started his journalistic career with the Associated Press of Pakistan news agency in 1950.

In early 1956, he set up the Pakistan Press Association (PPA) that was later renamed as PPI.

Muazzam Ali moved to London at the end of 1974, where he started in promoting Islamic banking. He wrote many books on the subject and set up the International Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance.

He was vice-chairman of the Geneva-based Darul Mal Al Islami and deputy secretary-general of the London-based Islamic Council of Europe. He also published the weekly New Horizon magazine.

Muazzam Ali, who came to Karachi from London about 10 weeks ago, was also adviser to late president General Ziaul Haq on media, Islamic affairs and overseas Pakistanis.—PPI.