Pakistan is celebrating the 147th birth anniversary of its national poet and philosopher, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, with various events across the country. The day began with the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore, where Rear Admiral Azhar Mahmood, Commander of the Pakistan Navy’s Central Punjab, was the chief guest. A contingent from the Pakistan Navy assumed responsibility for the guard of honor at Iqbal’s mausoleum, with senior Navy officers, sailors, and civilian personnel laying wreaths to honor his legacy.
The occasion, marked as a national public holiday, includes special radio and television programs celebrating Iqbal’s poetry and philosophy. As part of the tributes, Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both paid homage to Iqbal, recognizing the profound influence of his work.
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Gillani emphasized Iqbal’s role in uniting Muslims in the subcontinent and inspiring the movement for Pakistan’s creation. He noted that Iqbal’s teachings on Islamic values, cultural identity, and spiritual revival continue to guide Pakistan’s youth.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Iqbal’s vision for a separate homeland for Muslims and reiterated the importance of Iqbal’s teachings on self-reliance, unity, and self-awareness for Pakistan’s future development. Sharif also urged Pakistan’s youth to embrace Iqbal’s principles of hard work, faith, and commitment to justice and equality.
Born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877, Iqbal remains a central figure in Pakistan’s ideological foundation, with his 1930 address at the Allahabad session of the All India Muslim League often cited as a key moment in the lead-up to the creation of Pakistan.
