On April 13, 2025, Pakistan lost one of its most distinguished scholars, economists, politicians, authors, and researchers. Professor Khurshid Ahmad, the founding chairman of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), former senator, and an internationally recognized Islamic thinker, passed away in Leicester, United Kingdom, after a prolonged illness.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.

Early Life and Education
Professor Khurshid Ahmad was born on March 23, 1932, in Delhi. After the partition of India, he migrated to Pakistan, dedicating his life to the promotion of Islamic values, economic justice, and intellectual development. From a young age, he showed a deep commitment to Islamic ideology and economic thought.

Political and Academic Contributions
A long-standing member of Jamaat-e-Islami, Professor Khurshid Ahmad served in the Senate of Pakistan from 1985 to 2012, a tenure spanning nearly 22 years (with a brief interruption). During this time, he also served as Federal Minister for Planning and Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission.

In 1979, he founded the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Islamabad, which remains a leading research and policy institute in Pakistan. He served as its chairman until 2021.

Global Engagement and Leadership
Professor Khurshid Ahmad held several prestigious positions in international academic and research institutions, including:
- Founding Trustee of the International Islamic University
- President of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education, Leicester, UK
- Member of the Board of Governors at University of Management and Technology, Lahore
- President of the Islamic Foundation, UK

Scholarly Legacy
A prolific writer and thinker, Professor Khurshid Ahmad authored and edited over 100 books in Urdu and English. His works have been translated into numerous languages, including Arabic, French, Turkish, Bengali, Japanese, German, Indonesian, Hindi, Chinese, Korean, Persian, and more.

His intellectual legacy inspired PhD theses in leading universities in Malaysia, Turkey, and Germany. He was awarded honorary PhDs for his academic contributions:
- PhD in Islamic Economics from the University of Malaya, Malaysia
- PhD in Literature from Loughborough University, UK (2004)
- PhD in Education from the International Islamic University Malaysia

Honors and Awards
In recognition of his invaluable services, Professor Khurshid Ahmad received several national and international awards:
- Islamic Development Bank Prize in Islamic Economics (1989)
- King Faisal International Award (1990) for his global contributions to Islam
- Nishan-e-Imtiaz (1990) — Pakistan’s highest civilian award

An Irreplaceable Loss
The passing of Professor Khurshid Ahmad is not just a loss for Pakistan but for the entire Muslim Ummah. His contributions to Islamic economics, political thought, education, and social reform will continue to guide scholars, policymakers, and generations to come.

He was truly a towering intellectual and ideological figure whose legacy will remain etched in the annals of Islamic thought and scholarship.

May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah and bless the Muslim world with more scholars of his caliber. Ameen.