Religious Affairs Minister Announces 1500th Birth Celebrations and Commitment to End Interest System

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, announced in a press conference that the year 1447 Hijri will mark the 1500th blessed birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. From 1st to 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal, nationwide celebrations under the title of Ashra Rehmat-ul-lil-Alameen will be held.

The key highlight will be the 50th Seerat-un-Nabi ﷺ Conference, featuring prominent national and international figures. Conferences will also be organized across provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir. A special Naat gathering is scheduled for the night of 11th Rabi-ul-Awwal.

The Minister emphasized that these events will spread messages of peace, tolerance, and positive use of social media. He urged public participation and support for flood-affected and underprivileged people.

Talking about the financial system, Sardar Yousaf stressed that interest (riba) has no place in Islam, and efforts are underway to establish an interest-free economy by 2028, as promised under the 26th Constitutional Amendment. He revealed that many banks are already transitioning their systems, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs is actively working toward this goal.