PM, President say Iqbal's vision continues to serve as 'guiding beacon' for Pakistan

On the 149th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, also known as the "poet of the East," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the influential figure. Iqbal, a distinguished poet, scholar, philosopher and Pakistan's ideological founder, articulated the two-nation theory at the Allahabad session of the Muslim League in 1930, which led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.

The federal government recently declared November 9 as a public holiday in honor of Iqbal Day. A Change of Guards ceremony took place at Iqbal's mausoleum in Lahore on Monday, followed by a message from the Prime Minister emphasizing the poet's enduring thought that continues to inspire and guide the nation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Iqbal's role in awakening political consciousness among the Muslim population of the subcontinent, inspiring them to assert their distinct national identity. He further mentioned that Iqbal's Islamic thought continues to offer meaningful and practical guidance to Muslims in their individual and collective lives. The government plans to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Iqbal, culminating on November 9, 2027, with a year-long program of national and international events.

President Zardari also paid tribute to Iqbal, urging the country's youth to draw inspiration from the poet's poetry to boost the spirit of inquiry and develop critical faculties. He stressed that Iqbal's vision calls for a Pakistan where every citizen's dignity is respected, and no child's future is limited by birth or family circumstances.