Karachi: On September 5, 2024, Habib University inaugurated the Lady Fatima Endowed Faculty Chair in Women and Divinity, marking a pioneering addition to its Comparative Humanities program. This chair, the first of its kind globally, focuses on the study of women’s roles and the feminine aspects of divinity across various religious traditions.

According to Habib University, the creation of the Lady Fatima Endowed Chair aligns with its mission to deepen the understanding of women’s contributions within religious contexts. The endowment, funded by the Abbas D. Habib family in memory of Zainab Dawood Habib, seeks to promote rigorous research and global dialogues on topics that have historically been marginalized.

The chair was officially launched with a lecture by Dr. Larisa Jasarevic, an independent scholar known for her interdisciplinary work spanning climate ecology and metaphysics. During the inauguration, Dr. Jasarevic discussed the interplay between religion, gender dynamics, and ecological stresses, highlighting the relevance of Islamic teachings in contemporary sustainability practices.