A prominent religious institution in Karachi, Pakistan's port city, to provide a one-year diploma in business management to graduates and seminary final-year students.

In collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of Management (PIM), the Hira Institute of Emerging Science (HIES) Darul Uloom Karachi is introducing a one-year Diploma in Business Management, PIM spokesperson Adeel Zeerak told Arab News on Sunday.

He stated that the program will teach clergies graduating from different madaris practical knowledge to improve "their employability in the corporate sector and to train them to become entrepreneurs." The PIM hopes to expand the program to more seminaries in the future.

The official stated that "lack of required modern education" was a major focus while the seminary and PIM officials were establishing the course and that there were numerous domains discovered during the design of this certificate where such Ulema [religious scholars] can contribute in the business world.

Therefore, we have first determined the areas in which madrasah students may succeed after receiving a suitable education," he stated. They may work in other industries or launch their own start-ups.

The madrasa's students will be taught and trained in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, content creation, retail operations, tooling and machining, spare parts, livestock, and office supplies by PIM's staff.

As per the official, students will also be able to find employment in supply chain functions like warehousing, distribution, and transportation, as well as in corporate Sharia advisory positions, sales and marketing (including tele-sales), administration and HR departments, accounts departments, purchasing and contract management, call centers, front desks, and customer service.

He said that the enrollment requirements are merit-based. "Those who pass the aptitude [test] and interview will be admitted."

According to Zeerak, the admissions and orientation process will start the following week, but the course will officially begin after the month of Ramadan.

The course's educator, Dr. Muhammad Imran Usmani, who is the son of Mufti Taqi Usmani, informed Arab News that the introductory session that was originally planned for March 26 at HIES, Darul Uloom Karachi, has been rescheduled for next week.

Over four million students are served by more than 37,000 Islamic seminaries in Pakistan. Of these, all five madrassa boards have about 30,000 Madaris registered. Darul Uloom Karachi is just one of them, despite being a significant contemporary seminary with thousands of students.

Upon successful completion of the program, the PIM official said his institution will expand the idea to other seminaries, acknowledging that the program may be too modest for a significant informal religious sector of education.