Senate Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri was the chief guest on the occasion. In his address on the occasion, he called for a pro-active role of educational institutions in promoting Quranic teachings and inculcating the Islamic spirit in the younger generation.

He emphasized that Muslims must be prepared to properly read, understand and implement the teachings of the Holy Quran and ‘Seerat-un-Nabwi (PBUH)’ to pave the way of realizing the objectives for which Pakistan came into being about 70 years back.

The seminar, arranged by the University’s department of Abdul Wadood Center for Quranic Sciences, was also addressed by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui, eminent Naat Khawan Qari Syed Buzurg Shah Al Azhari, IIU Department of Quran and Tafseer Chairman Dr Qari Taj Afsar, AIOU Social Sciences Dean Dr Samina Awan and Qurani Center Chairman Abdul Basit Mujahid.

In his welcome address, Dr Shahid Siddiqui highlighted the university’s consistent efforts of projecting research-based studies that help to resolve socio-economic problems of Pakistan. "The AIOU is only university in the country that published fourteen research journals in the last three years. Of these, there are two journals one on Seerat Studies and other on Maarif-e-Islamic,” he said, the Daily Times reported.

The AIOU, he added, has been turned into center of academic, literary and social activities in order to create awareness among its students and the faculty members about the new challenges, while seeking aspirations from the teachings of Quran and Sunnah.

Maulana Abdul Ghaoor Haideri praised the AIOU for focusing on the study of Qurani sciences through its Quranic Centre. He hoped that the educational institutions would follow it and contribute to establishment of a true Islamic welfare state.