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

On the 149th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commemorated the poet's teachings, describing his message as a "guiding beacon" for Pakistan. Born in Sialkot in 1877, Iqbal was a poet, scholar and philosopher whose ideas influenced the two-nation theory that led to Pakistan's creation in 1947. The government announced November 9 as a public holiday in honor of Iqbal Day, with a Change of Guards ceremony held at his mausoleum in Lahore.

PM Shehbaz emphasized that Iqbal awakened political consciousness among Muslims and inspired them to assert their national identity, which was crucial in their struggle for an independent homeland. He further noted that Iqbal's Islamic thought provided meaningful guidance for Muslims in their personal and collective lives. The prime minister announced a year-long commemoration of Iqbal's 150th birth anniversary, featuring international conferences, academic seminars, literary festivals, exhibitions and cultural activities to preserve his intellectual legacy.

Zardari highlighted Iqbal's role in developing political consciousness among Muslims and urged the youth to draw inspiration from his poetry to boost the spirit of inquiry and develop critical faculties. He stressed that Iqbal's vision called for a Pakistan where no citizen's dignity was diminished by poverty, and every child could learn and advance regardless of family circumstances, gender or faith.

Iqbal's philosophy of Khudi, or selfhood, taught individuals and nations to transform their destinies through self-realization, purposeful effort and spiritual emancipation. The president also reiterated Iqbal's message of unity, social harmony, tolerance, and justice as essential pillars of sustainable national development.