Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi recently hosted Prof. Dr. Mohammad Kabir Hassan, Hamid D. Habib Chair in Finance at IBA-SBS and Professor of Finance at the University of New Orleans, for a series of enlightening lectures and discussions on Islamic finance. Dr. Hassan’s visit included a guest lecture for over 120 undergraduate students at IBA’s Main Campus, where he explored the topic of “Islamic Finance in the USA: Concepts, Institutions, and Prospects.”
In his talk, he discussed the evolution of Islamic finance in the U.S., highlighting its growth, opportunities, and potential to foster financial inclusion. The lecture offered students a deeper understanding of how Islamic finance principles are applied in a modern financial context. Later that day, Prof. Dr. Hassan engaged senior officials and industry experts at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) with an insightful lecture on “The Development of Government Sukuk Market.” He discussed the intricacies of various sukuk models, addressing their structure, operational challenges, and the need for strategic reforms to ensure the sukuk market’s growth and stability.
During his visit to the SBP, he met with Deputy Governor Mr. Saleem Ullah to further discuss the Islamization of Pakistan’s financial sector. In a session with Shariah scholars, Prof. Dr. Hassan delivered a talk on “Fiqh, Maqasid, and Economic Dimensions of Shariah Decision Making,” focusing on Shariah governance standards issued by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI).
The professor also met with the IBA-SBS faculty, offering valuable advice on publishing in high-impact journals. He shared strategies to improve research quality and address common publication challenges. Prof. Dr. Hassan’s public lecture at the IBA City Campus titled “How to Change the Islamic Finance Industry for Growth and Development?” captivated audiences with discussions on the rapid growth of Islamic finance, its global impact, and the urgent need for reforms. He called for the integration of Islamic finance ethics with digital literacy, stressing the importance of preparing professionals for Shariah-compliant fintech. In addition, Prof. Dr. Hassan addressed the resistance to change within the industry, advocating for collaborative efforts among stakeholders, regulatory reforms, and innovations to foster growth.
