ISLAMABAD (IRNA) -- The International Islamic University of Islamabad (IIUI) has established a Persian department in its Faculty of Languages and Literature, the university said on Wednesday.

Known linguist Dr Siddique Shibli has been appointed to look after the establishment of the Department of Persian in the male campus of the University while Prof Qiasara Alavi was appointed to oversee the Department of Women in the university.

The university currently has Arabic and English departments where courses up to PhD are regularly offered.

The university has two official languages -- Arabic and English -- and students are required to study elementary, intermediate and advance courses in Arabic and English.

For teaching of English to students from Arab and Central Asian countries and Arabic to students of non-Arabic background, the university has a Centre for Basic Studies (CBS) that offers courses in the said languages.

Recently, a group of 18 non-Muslim students from China were admitted in the Department of English which signifies official appreciation for the performance of the Faculty of Languages and Literature of the university.

The university has also established an Urdu department.