Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) set up a ‘Seerat Corner’ on Sunday at its Central Library to provide academic support to students for conducting research work on teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that are relevant to contemporary time. The Seerat Corner, containing updated information in the form of books and journals will be a source of inspiration and guidance for the young generation to shape their life in accordance with the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), AIOU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Nasir Mahmood said while highlighting the university’s efforts in promoting Islamic studies. The university in recent years also took a number of other measures, laying special focus on the promotion of holy Quran and Sunnah through academic pursuits. It has been decided that the university will introduce a four-year degree programme on Seeratun Nabi from next semester. Such a programme will be for the first time in the country at university level. AIOU has achieved many distinctions in the field of Islamic studies. It won five national awards on promotion of Seeratun Nabi through its research-based academic work. It was for the first time that that the university was declared the best one among higher educational institutions on writing research journals and articles by the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs with five awards. Recently, a specialised research journal on Seerat Studies was launched. It was most significant that the Higher Education Commission has awarded three indexing agencies to AIOU for providing free online access to research articles, facilitating researchers and academicians. These include one on Islamic studies. According to AIOU Faculty of Arabic & Islamic Studies Dean Professor Dr Shah Mohiuddin Hashmi, the university has set up an exclusive department to work on Seeratun Nabi that is now actively engaged in disseminating the message of Prophet Muhammad (PBUP) among the young generation through various academic programmes. Published in Daily Times, November 19th 2018.