Jamila Sultana Foundation Team Visits IIUI to Inspire and Empower Students for a Noble Cause.

Thalassemia Awareness Seminar & Blood Donation Drive 2025
Organized by the Department of Sociology, IIUI
In Collaboration with Jamila Sultana Foundation (JSF)

Overview

The Department of Sociology at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) proudly organized a landmark event — the Thalassemia Awareness Seminar and Blood Donation Drive 2025 — in collaboration with Jamila Sultana Foundation (JSF). Conducted from March to May 2025, this campaign was a model of student-led civic engagement aligned with IIUI’s Islamic and cultural values. The initiative successfully combined academic learning with humanitarian action, encouraging health education, volunteerism, and social responsibility among students.

Campaign Highlights

Title: “Spreading Awareness, Saving Lives: A Collaborative Health Campaign at IIUI”
The campaign was initiated and led by Ms. Haniya Syed, a final-year BS Sociology student and official Ambassador of JSF. Inspired by a classroom discussion, her vision was transformed into a university-wide event through the continued support and academic mentorship of Dr. Rabia Ali. The campaign promoted awareness about thalassemia prevention and the importance of regular blood donation, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan.

Seminar: Knowledge is the Cure

The seminar titled “Saving Lives Through Awareness: IIUI and JSF Unite Against Thalassemia” featured a powerful and enlightening lecture by Dr. Umm e Aiman, who highlighted:

• The medical and social implications of Thalassemia
• The importance of premarital testing
• The critical need for voluntary blood donations

Her compassionate and informative session transformed medical knowledge into a call for social action, empowering students to become responsible agents of change. Tokens of appreciation were presented to guest speakers as a gesture of respect, reflecting the department’s commitment to fostering academic and cultural values.

Blood Donation Drive: Strength in Unity

A historic achievement of this initiative was the first-ever Blood Donation Drive at IIUI’s Female Campus. Coordinated across both male and female campuses with full respect for Islamic values and gender segregation, the campaign was marked by:

• 130 volunteers registered
• 47 successful blood donors within just three hours
• Active participation from both campuses, achieved through digital coordination platforms such as Zoom, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and departmental emails

Ms. Haniya Syed played a pivotal role in cross-campus coordination, with support from the Departments of Student Affairs (Male & Female) and the broader JSF team.

Core Achievements

• Launch of the first-ever blood drive on the Female Campus
• Enhanced awareness of thalassemia prevention and testing
• Strengthened collaboration between a university department and a health-focused NGO
• Maintained IIUI’s institutional norms through ethical digital engagement
• Certificates of Appreciation awarded to all donors by JSF

Islamic Ethics & Cultural Sensitivity

A defining feature of the campaign was its adherence to IIUI’s Islamic ethos and gender protocols. Separate but equally impactful activities were organized for male and female students. The campaign proved that gender segregation does not hinder social impact when coordination is carried out with respect and responsibility.

Mentorship and Leadership Acknowledgment

Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Rabia Ali, whose guidance, encouragement, and visionary leadership enabled the successful execution of this campaign. Her role exemplifies the power of academic mentorship in turning student ideas into institutional achievements. Gratitude is also due to the male campus student leaders for their coordination and spirit of solidarity.

Conclusion

The 2025 Thalassemia Awareness Seminar and Blood Donation Drive stands as a proud example of student initiative, institutional support, and cross-sector collaboration. It highlights how academic departments can lead impactful social campaigns while respecting cultural, religious, and institutional values.The Department of Sociology extends heartfelt gratitude to all contributors, including guest speakers, volunteers, JSF representatives, and university staff. We look forward to continuing such impactful collaborations that empower students to serve humanity.

“And whoever saves one life – it is as if he had saved all of mankind.”
— Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:32

The Department of Sociology Successfully Organized an academic seminar on 23rd May 2025 on Women and Politics Rights, Theory, and Practice, at international Islamic University Islamabad Hazrat Maryam Block (Female campus) This important event focused on the relationship between gender and political involvement, shedding light on how women engage with politics both historically and in today’s world. It was part of the department’s efforts to provide meaningful learning opportunities for students and was organized by the PhD 1 and MS 1 students under the kind supervision of Dr. Rabia Gull.

The keynote speaker of the seminar was Dr. Akhlaq Ahmed, a respected expert in political sociology and gender studies. He delivered a detailed lecture that explored how women’s political rights have developed over time. He also explained the basics of feminist political theory and discussed how current political and social systems continue to influence women’s participation in political processes. During the session, Dr. Ahmed pointed out several key challenges faced by women in politics today. These include being Under represented in decision-making positions, facing barriers in policy and law, and struggling against deep-rooted cultural norms. However, he also highlighted positive progress and shared strategies for building more inclusive and fair political systems. He strongly emphasized that education, activism, and reforms within institutions are necessary for achieving gender equality in politics. The seminar attracted a diverse group of participants, including faculty members, researchers, and postgraduate students.

Unlocking Political Potential: Women’s Struggle, Strategy, and Success

After the lecture, an interactive question-and-answer session took place, where students and scholars actively engaged with the speaker. This open discussion allowed attendees to share their thoughts and seek clarity on various related issues.

The Future Is Female Gender Equity in Political Leadership

The Future is Female: Gender Equity in Political Leadership, is more than just a slogan—it represents a growing global movement toward inclusive and balanced political representation. As more women step into leadership roles, it becomes clear that gender equity is essential for a fair and functional democracy. Women unique perspectives, experiences, and leadership styles contribute to more diverse and compassionate policymaking. However, achieving true equity requires breaking down long-standing barriers such as societal biases, unequal opportunities, and institutional obstacles. Promoting education, mentorship, and supportive policies can empower more women to participate in politics and lead with confidence. The future of political leadership must be inclusive, where women are not just participants but key decision-makers shaping a better, more just world.

Gender, Governance & Justice

Rethinking Political Spaces for Women is a call to examine how political systems function and how they can be transformed to ensure fairness, inclusion, and equal opportunity. Traditionally, political spaces have been dominated by men, often marginalizing women voices and perspectives. This imbalance not only undermines democratic values but also limits the potential for policies that reflect the needs of the entire population. Addressing gender gaps in governance is not just about representation about creating systems that are more just, responsive, and effective for all. Justice in governance can only be achieved when women are not just included symbolically but are empowered to lead, influence decisions, and shape public policy. A gender-just political system values collaboration over competition, empathy over dominance, and community over personal gain.

The motive of this seminar was to provide students awareness about the importance of social work perspective relating Islam, youth and Globalized world, encourage them to think big, enable them to build such abilities within themselves that could operate on a national scale and provide humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable and needy segments of society.

Guest speakers of this seminar were Dr. Faryal Umbreen, Mr. Israr Mohammad Khan, and Mr. Sohail Habib Tajik . Dr. Faryal Umbreen is Head of the Dawah Center for Women International Islamic University, a pioneer in her field. She has been serving as the head of Dawah Women for the past 25 years, Mr. Israr Mohammad Khan has been appointed as Director General NCRD (National Centre for Rural Development) on 13th April 2018. He joined NCRD on 15th September 2001 as Assistant Director. He has extensively travelled abroad, and represented Pakistan on various events pertaining to field of good governance, poverty alleviation, rural development etc. Mr. Sohail Habib Tajik is a Pakistani civil servant and a police officer who is currently serving as Inspector General of Azad Kashmir Police since June 2021. He served as best probationer on National Police Academy and has been awarded the Tamgha e Imtiaz. He has served all over Pakistan in different roles. He is well known for his services in education. He has helped setting up many new schools in under developed areas of Pakistan.

The seminar began with the recitation of Holy Quran followed by National Anthem; afterwards respected speakers were invited to the stage to deliver their powerful and motivational words to the students. Dr. Faryal Umbreen emphasized the importance of social work in Islam, focusing on maintaining basic human needs through positive behavior and sincerity with Allah. She emphasized that social work should start at the family level and progress to outer places and people. Love and kindness are essential for social work, as exemplified by Hazrat Umer (r.a) and Hadiths. She concluded by highlighting five aspects of social work: self-care, physical fitness, connection with Allah, emotional intelligence, and social strength.

Mr. Israr Mohammad Khan discussed the role of youth in social work, emphasizing their potential to improve and create opportunities. He emphasized the importance of social work and well-educated youth in a bright future. Mr. Khan highlighted issues causing undeveloped societies and unusual trends among youth. He shared examples of his South Korean colleagues comparing childhood experiences with modern youth, highlighting the dangers of narcissism and exploitation. Mr. Khan encouraged students to excel in themselves and their surroundings.

Afterwards, at the end; Mr. Sohail Habib Tajik, discussed the impact of globalization on society, highlighting the shift from a global village to a global city. He highlighted the rise of daily emails, silk roads, and e-commerce, as well as the industrial evolution from the 1870s to the 2000s. Mr. Tajik also discussed the rise of artificial intelligence and the convergence of society into a uniformed state. He compared the globalized world to the “Iron curtain” and the “Silicon curtain,” arguing that the globalized world leads to creative decisions and ideas while compromising privacy. He also addressed the issue of “Glossophobia” among individuals, highlighting the impact of celebrities and historical figures like Dian Churcher.

Mr. Tajik also highlighted the importance of non-verbal and verbal gestures in communication. He concluded by highlighting the negative effects of unhealthy consumption of social media on brain health, including attention, screen-timing, and IQ decline. After his speech, Dr. Saima Yasmeen (focal person of seminar) was invited at stage to present souvenirs to guest speakers; seminar was concluded with vote of thanks to guest speakers and appreciation poem for focal person of this seminar.

Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Dr. Manzoor Khan Afridi, was the Chief Guest of the seminar.

On this occasion, Professor Dr. Manzoor Khan Afridi stressed the transformative power of education in achieving empowerment, engagement, and emancipation. He highlighted the importance of deconstructing cultural taboos and promoting inclusive narratives. “To understand perspectives, we first need to understand their constructs,” he remarked, encouraging collective responsibility towards transformative education.

In her welcome address, Dr. Rabia Ali, Incharge of the Department of Sociology, emphasized that gender inequalities in Pakistan are deeply rooted in socio-cultural factors. She underscored that solutions must be culturally acceptable and introduced the EMPOWER project, coordinated by Islamic Relief Worldwide and funded by IR Canada. The initiative aims to address gender inequality by leveraging faith-based teachings, involving religious scholars and faith leaders to challenge patriarchal norms, and promoting education and legal protection as tools to prevent domestic violence.

Mr. Raza Neraijo, Deputy Country Director of Islamic Relief Pakistan, thanked the IIUI faculty and students for their participation. He provided an overview of IRP’s global initiatives, stressing the need for empowerment and awareness in challenging environments where women face systemic struggles.

Dr. Ruksana Tariq, Student Advisor Female Campus, underscored the importance of addressing gender-related issues in academic spaces and encouraged students to organize similar events to foster dialogue.

The event’s central focus was an engaging panel discussion on faith-based approaches to gender justice. The panel featured Dr. Faryal Umbreen, Incharge Dawa Center; Dr. Noreen Saher, Associate Professor Anthropology; Ms. Afshan Jamal from Islamic Relief Pakistan; and Ms. Abida Farheen. In the first round of discussions, panelists explored theoretical frameworks of domestic violence, including relational, social-ecological, and traumatic models. The speakers emphasized the role of families in fostering harmony while addressing societal taboos through Islamic principles and sociological perspectives. Policies to address domestic violence and the challenges of implementation were also discussed.

The second round highlighted girls’ education as a critical issue, emphasizing the socio-cultural pressures women face. Panelists stressed the role of education in holistic personality development and called for inclusive and responsive educational policies rooted in Islamic principles.

The event also featured poster presentations by MS Sociology students on themes related to gender violence and girls’ education. Faculty members and external experts evaluated the posters, and certificates and prizes were awarded to the participants.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Babar Akram, Chairman Department of Sociology, summarized the event and emphasized the need to combine faith-based approaches with sociological evidence to address gender justice effectively. He thanked Islamic Relief Pakistan for their support and appreciated the efforts of the Department of Sociology for organizing the seminar.

The seminar concluded with a vibrant Q&A session, where participants discussed topics such as spouse selection, women’s empowerment in underprivileged regions, and the interplay of religion and educational culture. The event ended on an optimistic note, celebrating the collective efforts towards empowering women and addressing domestic violence through faith-based and culturally sensitive approaches.