Sindh government is seeking financial help from Turkey for establishment of 'Sufi University' at Bhit Shah (Matiyari), sources told Business Recorder here at Monday. They said that the Sindh government had to start 'Sufi University' from January 2011 with own resources but failed due to financial crisis following recent floods.
Sufi University was to be set up on the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari. Now he himself has asked the Sindh government to get financial assistance from Turkey to establish the university, sources said. The Sindh government has finalised the buildings of Culture and Education Departments including Culture Centre, Public School over 50 acres area near Bhit Shah for 'Sufi University'.
According to official estimate, Sindh government requires Rs 65.590 million for the first academic year of Sufi University, sources said. When contacted, focal person of the project and Secretary of Antiquities Kalim Lashari confirmed this. He told Business Recorder that they are working for getting financial help from Turkey for 'Sufi university'. He said: "We were hopeful of establishing Sufi University in the start of 2011 but due to non-availability of funds, we could not".
He said: "We have finalised each and every thing for the project including buildings in Bhit Shah, design of administrative structure, academic year system, subjects and all the related things".Lashri said that Human Mind/ Ritual, Psychology/ Neurology, Theories of religions, Linguistics, structuralism, Origin of Sufism, Western traditions and practices, Chronological study of Saints/Sufis,Visual, Mysticism and major religions, Judaism and African religions, Development of Sufism in Islamic thought, Comparative study of religions and traditions, IT and research, Linguistics and structuralism, Islamic Sufism, Expressive elements in Sufism/Sama (miracle, festivities Music, Art, Qawali, Dhamal, Tasawaf, Symbolism) and Heritage of Sufism and others subjects would be taught in 'Sufi University'.