Wednesday 08 / October / 2025
Kuala Lumpur: The International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) on Tuesday conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Governance on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contributions to nationbuilding.
The conferment of the honorary degree took place at a Special Convocation Ceremony held at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization of IIUM’s Kuala Lumpur Campus, which was
officiated by the university’s Constitutional Head, Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah
Maimunah Iskandariah.
At the invitation of his Malaysian counterpart, Prime Minister Shehbaz is on a three-day official visit to
Malaysia, wherein he met Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and held delegation-level talks, besides
addressing an investment conference.
The conferment of the honorary degree took place at a Special Convocation Ceremony held at the
International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization of IIUM’s Kuala Lumpur Campus, which was
officiated by the university’s Constitutional Head, Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah
Maimunah Iskandariah.
At the invitation of his Malaysian counterpart, Prime Minister Shehbaz is on a three-day official visit to
Malaysia, wherein he met Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and held delegation-level talks, besides
addressing an investment conference.
In his acceptance address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the conferment as a “great privilege
and honor,” emphasising his delight in being associated with IIUM, an institution renowned for Acknowledging the honour with “heartfelt gratitude,” he expressed the hope that his presence at IIUM
would further strengthen academic partnerships and collaboration between the university and Pakistan’s
leading institutions of higher learning.
The prime minister said that leadership was a sacred trust which should be exercised with honesty,
sincerity, justice, and transparent accountability.
Highlighting the challenges facing the Muslim Ummah, he called for unity, compassion, and moral
integrity and stressed the need to hold steadfastly to Islamic values and ethics to reclaim their rightful
place in the comity of nations.
He called Pakistan’s youthful population a blessing and underscored the responsibility to provide them
with platforms to serve suffering humanity with compassion and commitment.
In her address, Tunku Azizah said that for over four decades, Shehbaz Sharif had demonstrated visionary leadership, discipline, and compassion, dedicated to transforming lives and uplifting communities through advancements in education, healthcare, and opportunity creation.
“His initiatives, such as the Punjab Education Endowment Fund, have opened the doors of higher
learning to thousands who might never have dreamed of university education. That is leadership that
touches hearts and transforms futures… At a time when the world often prizes image over integrity, His
Excellency (Shehbaz Sharif) reminds us that good governance is about sincerity, service, and
steadfastness,” she said.
Commending Pakistan’s longstanding friendship with Malaysia, she said the bilateral ties had further
strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Today, our Pakistani students, academics, and alumni continue to enrich the university and uphold our
shared mission of serving the Ummah. This conferment is more than a recognition of achievement. It is a
celebration of the values we hold dear: justice, service, and excellence guided by faith,” she added.
The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information
and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, SAPM
Tariq Fatemi, Malaysia’s Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Higher Education Minister Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, IIUM President Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain, IIUM Rector Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bakar, and the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Malaysia, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah.
In her address, Tunku Azizah said that for over four decades, Shehbaz Sharif had demonstrated visionary leadership, discipline, and compassion, dedicated to transforming lives and uplifting communities through advancements in education, healthcare, and opportunity creation.
“His initiatives, such as the Punjab Education Endowment Fund, have opened the doors of higher
learning to thousands who might never have dreamed of university education. That is leadership that
touches hearts and transforms futures… At a time when the world often prizes image over integrity, His
Excellency (Shehbaz Sharif) reminds us that good governance is about sincerity, service, and
steadfastness,” she said.
Commending Pakistan’s longstanding friendship with Malaysia, she said the bilateral ties had further
strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Today, our Pakistani students, academics, and alumni continue to enrich the university and uphold our
shared mission of serving the Ummah. This conferment is more than a recognition of achievement. It is a
celebration of the values we hold dear: justice, service, and excellence guided by faith,” she added.
The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information
and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, SAPM
Tariq Fatemi, Malaysia’s Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Higher Education Minister Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, IIUM President Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain, IIUM Rector Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bakar, and the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Malaysia, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah.
