EDITORIAL
The present issue of the journal includes selected papers and abstracts of the papers  presented at the International Seminar titled The Muslim Scholars of the East: Philosophical Thoughts for the Contemporary Society- Rumi, Iqbal & Syed Ahmed Khan organized by the Department of Humanities -NED University of Engineering and Technology  in collaboration with Higher Education Commission Pakistan, Rumi Forum Karachi and Educational Resource Development Centre Karachi on March 3, 2016 at the NED University Main Campus. 
The primary purpose of the seminar was to provide an opportunity to young students and researchers through plenary talks and scholarly papers to understand the basic philosophical thoughts of the Muslims scholars of the EAST and relate these ideas, full of wisdom and sagacity to the present times. The seminar was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor, NED University, Prof Dr. Muhammad Afzal Haque. Speaking on the occasion, he described the event as a very fruitful activity as the seminar provided a chance to reconnect to the wisdom, virtues and values of our past; no doubt these philosophers had been separated by the geography and time line, however, their message appears to be eternal. Speaking on the occasion the Dean of the faculty, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tufail acknowledged the fact that the students must not only be aware of the developments in Science and Technology but should also get themselves acquainted with the thoughts of the Muslim philosophers of the East. 
The international plenary speakers Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, Professor, Islamic Studies, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, John Caroll, University, USA, Dr. Ibrahim Cerrah, President Centre for Legal Ethical & Political Studies, HESA, Balgat, Ankara, Turkey, Prof. Dr. Zaid Malik, Professor and Translator at King Saud University Riyadh, K.S.A, alongside the national speakers Dr. Abdul Wahab Suri, Chairman, Department of Philosophy, University of Karachi, Mr. Khurram Ali Shafique, Acclaimed Author in Iqbal and Founder, Marghdeen Iqbal Studies Centre, and  Dr. Muhammad Abid Ali – Professor Education, Institute of Business Administration, highlighted the philosophers’ key ideas related to self and humanity, love and respect, peace and tolerance; and presented knowledge interpretation and application for solving problems confronting us today. 
I would acknowledge and thank the efforts of the special editorial committee comprising Dr. Abdul Hai Madni, Mr. Muhammad Ghaus, Ms. Farzana Shakoor, Ms. Mahwish Arif, Ms. Hina Mohammad Ali, Ms. Sadia Fayyaz and Ms Farheen Peerzada who worked on the editorial and management processes related with the publishing of the seminar proceedings in this current issue of JSSIR.
Sajida Zaki, Editor JSSIR