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

On the 149th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the poet, emphasizing that his message of unity and peaceful coexistence continues to serve as a "guiding beacon" for Pakistan. Iqbal, born in Sialkot in 1877, was a poet, scholar, philosopher, and the ideological founder of Pakistan. He first 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 has declared November 9 as a public holiday in honor of Iqbal Day. A Change of Guards ceremony was held at Iqbal's mausoleum in Lahore on Monday morning. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Iqbal's role in awakening political consciousness among Muslims, inspiring them to recognize and assert their distinct national identity. He also noted that Iqbal's Islamic thought offers meaningful and practical guidance to Muslims in their individual and collective lives.

President Zardari echoed the Prime Minister's sentiments, urging the country's youth to take inspiration from Iqbal's poetry as a catalyst to boost the spirit of inquiry and develop critical faculties. He stressed that Iqbal's vision of a society where wealth, privilege, and inherited status do not determine a person's worth or opportunities is more relevant than ever. Both leaders emphasized that Iqbal's philosophy of peace, social harmony, tolerance, and justice remains indispensable for the nation's development.