Pakistan to host conference on Islamic Marketing in the 21st century

Pakistan is looking to become the global leader of Islamic Marketing with the organising of the 2nd Annual Islamic Conference, The Marketing Renaissance this May 15 in Karachi.

Borrowing the words of Jalel Aossey of Midamar Corp. "We must author our own Halal story, or someone else will".

Organised by The Iqra Society of Pakistan’s leading Business School, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, the conference will be attended by various students of different Universities, along with practicing professionals who would help integrate the concepts of Islamic Marketing to the local scenario.

The journey will start off with a documentary showcasing the emergence and importance of Islamic Marketing in the 21st century. The audience will then be enlightened by the experience and research of nine distinguished speakers from within and outside the country, all keen to pursue excellence in this world and the next.

Shaykh Hashim Ahmed, the CEO of Al-Khair Natural Products, an entity acknowledged in 30 countries for its premium brands, will share his views on the topic “Product, Profit and the Pleasure of Allah SWT”.

An interactive session on “Foul is Fair: Marketing and the Colonization of the Muslim Imagination” will be conducted jointly by Dr. Farzad Rafi Khan & Dr. Adnan Zahid. Dr. Farzad, a graduate of University of Cambridge and McGill, is currently a Professor of Business Ethics at Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan, who teaches Philosophy and Management Sciences. While Dr. Adnan Zahid, a graduate of Oxford University, is an Assistant Professor at Suleman Dawood School of Business.

Dr. Bakr Ahmad Al-Sehran, the founding editor of the Journal of Islamic Marketing and also the author of the book, “The Principles of Islamic Marketing” will also be speaking. Currently an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the UAE University, he would lay the foundations of “The Principles of Islamic Marketing, the Muslim Consumer and Islamic Branding”.

Happiness is a jewel we all treasure, but few truly find it. The Director of International Islamic University, Islamabad, and a leading scholar on Islamic economics who was previously an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins and Columbia University, Dr. Asad Zaman, would chalk out simple formulae to achieve happiness in his talk, “The Pursuit of Happiness”. He would highlight how following Islamic codes of conduct in every arena, be it marketing or otherwise, brings true happiness in one’s life.

Islamic Calligraphy on a Seashell by Zeeshan Qureshi, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. www.shanii.com

Adding insight from the advertising world, Mr. Amjad Subhani, Creative Director of Synergy Advertising and Ex-Associate Creative Director of JWT Pakistan would speak on “Dancing on a Wart Floor”. Also, we have Mr. Ozair Hanafi, the CEO of Ecommerce Gateway of Pakistan, shedding light on the “Power of Ethical Marketing” through his experience of more than 40 years in Direct Marketing.

Finally Mr. Salman Abedin, Coordinator – Media Sciences, Szabist University and the Executive Director of Planning and Operations at Contract Advertising, will take the audience to the exciting world of “Brand Personality of Islamic Products”.

The pursuit of excellence, however, does not end here. The participants will be given products/product categories which they will be required to analyze under the Islamic principles of Marketing. Corporate Professionals working within this category will hear out their ideas and give feedback.

Don’t miss the chance of learning from great minds. Come get acquainted with the ethical side of Marketing. Register now and join the in the Pursuit of Excellence. Also follow IBAAIC’ 2011 – Marketing Renaissance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ibaaic.