Kuala Lumpur (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been conferred an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Governance by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in recognition of his “outstanding leadership and contributions to nation-building.”
The award was presented at a special ceremony at IIUM’s Kuala Lumpur campus, attended by Queen of Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who also serves as the university’s constitutional head.
Dressed in a blue academic gown, the prime minister described the honour as a “great privilege” and thanked the university for acknowledging his decades-long public service.
“For more than forty years, I have devoted myself to serving the people of Punjab and, now, as prime minister of Pakistan, I continue to do so with sincerity and commitment,” he said. “Leadership is not a privilege but a sacred trust, an amanah, to be exercised with honesty, justice, and accountability before Allah.”
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Shehbaz Sharif lauded IIUM for its dedication to integrating knowledge, faith, and ethics, saying the institution had “championed excellence in education across the Muslim world.” He expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for stronger academic collaboration between IIUM and Pakistan’s universities.
Quoting verses of Allama Iqbal, he urged the Muslim world to draw strength from unity, faith, and shared values in confronting global challenges such as conflict, poverty, and division.
Queen Tunku Azizah, in her remarks, praised the PM for serving “with vision, discipline, and compassion.” She highlighted his work in Punjab, particularly the Punjab Education Endowment Fund, which she said had “opened the doors of higher learning to thousands who might never have dreamed of university education.”
“True leadership,” she noted, “is not about power, but about purpose, about building lives and uplifting communities.”
She also touched upon the situation in Palestine, stressing the need for “peace on earth and harmony among mankind.”
The prime minister’s visit to Malaysia, his first since taking office in 2024, included multiple engagements aimed at deepening bilateral and economic ties.
During talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, both leaders agreed to revitalize cooperation across diverse sectors and work toward a “forward-looking partnership” under the ASEAN framework.
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PM Shehbaz welcomed Malaysia’s decision to import $200 million worth of halal meat from Pakistan, calling it “a significant step in strengthening trade relations.”
Malaysia, in turn, expressed its intention to expand palm oil exports to Pakistan to meet rising demand, according to a joint statement released by both governments.
